The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (WGAD) has just rendered an opinion recognising the arbitrariness of the detention of Lydienne Yen Eyoum. Our organisation submitted the case of Mrs Yen Eyoum to the WGAD on 13 June 2015.
Lydienne Yen Eyoum is a Franco-Cameroonian lawyer living in Cameroon. She was arrested on 8 January 2010 and accused of embezzling public funds. On 26 September 2014 she was sentenced to 24 years in prison, a sentence that unfortunately was confirmed on 9 June 2015 by the Supreme Court.
The WGAD opined that this detention was arbitrary since Lydienne Yen Eyoum was arrested without being informed of the grounds for her arrest and because the custodial remand greatly exceeded the legally authorised time period.