Catholic priest dies in detention at Bertoua Central Prison
Reverend Father Abbe Emilien Messina, 48 died at the Bertoua Regional Hospital on March 14th following an illness.
According to reports, he was imprisoned at the Bertoua central prison in May 2022 for sexual assault. This was due to a complaint filed against him by the parents of a 17-year-old girl. They accused him of sexual abuse of their daughter.
During his pre-trial detention, he had several court hearings which had been dismissed. He got severely ill and was taken to the Bertoua Regional hospital where he gave up the ghost.
It should be recalled that the Bishop of Bertoua Joseph Atanga and Chancellor Abée Jean Crépin Menguina Nama had co-signed a decree on May 18, 2022, prohibiting father Abbé Emilien Messina from all activities in the pastoral ministry, after having heard of these accusations against him.
