## Trial Begins for Public Prosecutor and NGO Leaders in Guinea-Forestière
The trial of public prosecutor Simon Pierre Camara, alongside Pépé Francis Haba and Co., commenced on 6 August at Dixon Criminal Court.
At the bar, all three defendants denied the charges of assault and threat to public security.
Camara, a teacher and president of the NGO Messengers of the People for Peace and Development (MPPD), claims he received a phone call urging him to provide revision lessons for his children. He was subsequently arrested on 27 July.
“We had a meeting in Sonfonia to mobilize funds for our activities,” Camara stated, adding that he invited many members of his NGO to support him in court on 28 September, the day the Dixinn criminal court announced its decision on 31 July. Notably, a platform administrator named Tamba suggested cutting off access to several bridges if Moussa Dadis Camara and Co. were convicted on 28 September 2009.
Camara clarified that Tamba never made this declaration on the NGO platform, but rather during a meeting with approximately twenty people in Sonfonia. He immediately removed Tamba from his administrative position following this statement.
The prosecution accused Camara of attempting to influence the court’s decision regarding Moussa Dadis Camara’s case. The accused vehemently denied this, stating, “I will not do it, even in front of the President Moussa Dadis Camara. We cannot go beyond a court decision.”
The public prosecutor questioned the motives behind the MPPD’s support for the accused, suggesting it was intended to appease them. Camara countered this by emphasizing that the NGO’s support was limited to defendants from Guinea-Forestière.
The MPPD had five platforms with over 1,000 members each, and was administered by Bienvenu Théa and Simon Pierre.
The defense attorney denied any involvement in kidnapping or illegal activities, claiming the MPPD did not incite any public disturbances and that his client was never present at the Dixinn criminal court or any other MPPD event.
“This is an abuse of power,” the attorney stated. ”Creating a non-political NGO cannot be considered a threat to public security.”
But Doumbuya