Catholic Priest dies in detention in Bertoua
Reverend Father Abbe Emilien Messina, age 48 died at the Bertoua Regional Hospital on the 14th of March, 2023 after a brief illness while in dentention.
Rev. Abbe Emilien Messina, a Catholic Priest, age 48 died at the Bertoua Regional Hospital on the 14th of March, 2023 after a brief illness while in detention.
Reports say he was sentenced at the Bertoua central prison in May 2022 for sexual assault on a 17-year-old girl. He was detained due to the complaints laid by the parents of the 17-year-old girl against him. The teenage girl’s parents accused Catholic Priest of sexual assault on their 17-year-old daughter who was considered a minor.
It should be recalled that he(Rev Abbe Emilien Messina) has had several court hearings which were all dismissed during his Pre-trial detention. This prompted the Bishop of Bertoua Joseph Atanga and others to sign a decree on the 18th of May, 2022 restricting Rev Abbe Emilien Messina from all Catholic pastoral activities.
While in Detention, Rev Abbe Emilien Messina fell seriously ill and was taken to the Bertoua Regional hospital where he gave up the ghost.
