Bertoua: father Emilien still not buried!

The mortal remains of late father Emilien Messina are still in the mortuary of the Bertoua hospital almost 4 months after his death.

The Catholic Priest serving at the Bertoua Archdiocese passed away in March 2023 after spending ten months in detention over a case of alleged rape and possible HIV/AIDS infection.

The deceased’s family claims the church has a hand in the demise of their brother. “While in detention, my brother told us the church made some ungodly proposals which he declined and that is how his problems began in 2022,” Solange Aurélie Amanya, sister of late Father Emilien Messina declared.

Father Emilien Messina was arrested and jailed in May 2022 following a complaint of rape from a girl named Hilary Barbara Ombga and her family on grounds he sexually assaulted their daughter from her 14th to 17th year, resulting in an HIV/AIDS infection.

Solange Aurélie Amanya has however explained that her brother voluntarily took an HIV test which came back negative. The alleged victim on the other hand, refused to take a test at a designated clinic. She also disclosed that the clinic Ms Omgba cited in her complaint tested her positive to the vrus, does not exist. Solange Aurélie Amanya added that although these shadow zones were pinpointed in court by her deceased brother’s lawyers, the court chose to ignore them.

Solange Aurélie Amanya added that Father Messina had wished to be buried in his village: “All Emilien asked was to be buried in his village so he could rest because he told me the church had excommunicated him.” The family is therefore surprised that the Bertoua archdiocese insists on burying the deceased priest. All attempts to get a court ruling were abortive and the family was advised to settle the case with church authorities.

Solange Aurélie Amanya also claims that the younger brother to the late Father Messina, also a priest in te same archdiocese is on the run after his life was threatened. Contacted, authorities of the Bertoua archdiocese refused to make any statement to the press.

Read also: Catholic priest dies in detention at Bertoua Central Prison