AFRICA/CAMER00N - Death of the Bishop of Bafia: The Episcopal Conference has lodged a complaint for murder

Friday, 21 July 2017 justice   bishops  

Yaounde (Agenzia Fides) - The Bishops of Cameroon have filed a lawsuit for an inquiry into the death of His Exc. Mgr. Jean-Marie Benoît Bala, Bishop of Bafia, whose body was found in the Sanaga River, 2 June. The Bishops immediately clarified that Mgr. Bala was the victim of a murder, refuting any suicide hypothesis. "Mgr. Bala was brutally murdered", denounced a statement from the Episcopal Conference (see Fides 14/6/2017). On 4 July, however, the Attorney General issued a statement in which it stated that "drowning is the most likely cause of the Bishop’s death".
His Exc. Mgr. Samuel Kleda Doula Archbishop and President of the Episcopal Conference of Cameroon, stated that the Bishops "are not satisfied" with regards to the investigations carried out so far on the death of Mgr. Bala. This is why, said Mgr. Kleda, the Episcopal Conference has lodged a complaint for murder, "so that truth is established". Mgr. Kleda added that a complaint would be filed against some police officers for handling the case badly.
"If Mgr. Bala had drowned, there would be water in his body, but no water was found. Instead, there are clear signs of violence", said the Archbishop. Mgr. Bala’s funeral will be held on 2 August in Bafia. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides, 21/7/2017)


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