Staff of Alternatives-Cameroon now face homosexuality charges
Four arrestees remain in custody, six have been set free, three are out on bail
Homosexuality-related charges were filed yesterday (Oct. 9) against staff members of the LGBTI rights advocacy group Alternatives-Cameroon who have been held by police since a raid on its offices in Douala on Sept. 30.
The charges are indecent exposure affecting a minor and complicity in homosexuality.
Under Cameroonian law, homosexual activity is punishable by up to five years in prison.
During the raid, police arrested 13 people, including five staff members of Alternatives; three clients aged 17, 19 and 21; and five employees of a non-governmental organization that worked with Alternatives in connection with its fight against HIV / AIDS.
Of the 13, four arrestees remain in custody, six have been set free, and three are out on bail.
The non-governmental organization’s five arrested staff were released on Oct. 3 and face no charges.
The other eight arrestees were investigated for homosexuality, according to an Alternatives press release.
Of them, four staff members remain in custody, while Lucien Ewane, the president of Alternatives, was freed on bail yesterday along with two of the three arrested clients of Alternatives. The third client who was arrested — a 17-year-old boy — was freed outright after he accused psychological counselor Denis Watonwa of having sexual relations with him.
The other three Alternatives staff members who are still in custody facing homosexuality-related charges are:
- Hermine Ngo Ndaptie, drop-in center manager
- Oumarou Ousmanou, peer educator
- Fotie Zidane, peer educator
The case was continued until Nov. 13 because the 17-year-old was not present at yesterday’s hearing.
Attorney Nsali, who visited the detainees after they had been in police custody for six days, said they were “very thin and very worried about the direction of the investigation.” They did not have money for food or daily expenses, so Nsali paid out of pocket for water and a little food for them.
While in custody, Hermine Ngo Ndaptie was confronted with an accusation related to ARV anti-HIV medication at the drop-in center. When investigators raised that issue, she had no legal counsel. She did not sign the deposition and the investigators did not continue that line of questioning, Alternatives stated.
According to the arrestees’ lawyer, the raid had targeted alleged clandestine practice of medicine, as well as alleged human trafficking and homosexuality.
In connection with the 17-year-old’s accusation against Watonwa, Alternatives stated: “The mother of the 17-year-old minor … refused any contact with her son and said that Alternatives-Cameroon would be responsible for the ‘destruction of her son’s life’ and that she did not want to hear anything from people who would come from this organization. She was visibly still in shock and will herself need psychological support or assistance.”
An attorney for the defendants said,”the opportunity for requesting their release will be studied, but we cannot be optimistic that the accused will be released immediately. Unfortunately, we may have to wait a few weeks.”
