Amadou Damaro Camara, former President of Guinea’s National Assembly under Alpha Condé, has been convicted of embezzling public funds and corruption by the Court for the Repression of Economic and Financial Offenses (CRIEF). Camara was sentenced to four years in prison and fined 5 billion Guinean francs.
The case involved Camara and five co-defendants, following months of judicial proceedings. Prosecutor Aly Touré expressed satisfaction with the court’s ruling, stating that the evidence presented clearly demonstrated the charges of embezzlement and corruption. “The embezzlement of public funds and acts of corruption have been proven,” Touré said. “We had sought a five-year sentence, but the court reduced it to four years. This decision aligns with CRIEF’s mission to hold public officials accountable for misuse of state resources.”
However, the defense team voiced strong dissatisfaction. Lancéi 3 Doumbouya, one of Camara’s lawyers, criticized the verdict, arguing that the court lacked concrete evidence to justify the conviction. “There is no solid basis upon which Amadou Damaro Camara could be found guilty of embezzlement or corruption,” Doumbouya stated, adding that the defense plans to challenge the ruling in the appellate court.
The verdict also included provisions for the restitution of certain assets confiscated from Camara, further complicating the legal battle.
In the same trial, Michel Kamano, the former treasurer of Parliament, was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison and fined 4 billion Guinean francs. An arrest warrant has been issued for Kamano, who remains outside the country.
The case, which has drawn significant public attention, underscores Guinea’s intensified focus on combating corruption and ensuring accountability among high-ranking officials. With appeals likely, the final outcome remains uncertain.