# SUPREME COURT OF CAMEROON
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# SOLEMN REOPENING OF THE SUPREME COURT
(22 FEBRUARY 2018)
# ADDRESS OF THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT
Lord Justice Daniel MEKOBE SONE
Yaounde, 22 February 2018
The President of the Senate, The Speaker of the National Assembly, The Prime Minister, Head of Government, The President of the Economic and Social Council, The President of the Constitutional Council, The Vice-Prime Minister, Minister Delegate at the Presidency in charge of Relations with the Assemblies, The Minister of State, Minister of Justice, Keeper of the Seals, The Minister of State, Minister of Tourism and Leisure. The Grand Chancellor of National Orders, Distinguished Ministers, Distinguished Ministers-delegate and Secretaries of State, Distinguished Ambassadors and Representatives of International Organizations, The Permanent Secretary of OHADA, The Director General of the National School of Administration and Magistracy, The Governor of Centre Region, The Government Delegate to Yaounde City Council, Distinguished Judicial and Legal Officers,
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Distinguished Army Generals,
The President of Cameroon Bar Association,
The President of the National Association of Notaries Public,
The President of the National Association of Sheriff/Bailiffs and Process Servers,
Traditional and Religious Authorities,
Learned Barristers at law,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The Supreme Court of Cameroon is pleased with your presence in this hall decorated for such major events and heartily welcomes you therein.
Pursuant to the provisions of section 33 of Law No. 2006/16 of 29 December 2006 to lay down the organization and functioning of the Supreme Court, at the start of each judicial year and on 28 February at the latest, the Supreme Court shall hold a solemn court session to mark the reopening of the judicial year.¹
The solemn reopening of the Supreme Court holding this Thursday, 22 February 2018 is in compliance with both the law and traditions of Superior Courts of final jurisdiction.
¹ Cameroon Judiciary and its new institutions. Collection of instruments, P.U.A 2007 Page 49.
Like in previous years and true to tradition, the Supreme Court will present a discourse on the criminal justice policy of our country under the theme “The Spirit of Forgiveness and the Enforcement of Criminal Law in Cameroon”.
Your Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In modern democracies, the goal of the criminal law is to restore social peace disrupted by criminal acts perpetrated with the society as a victim.
It should, therefore, carry out its mission in compliance with the principle of legality in respect of the offence and the punishment.²
“Nullum crimen sine lege, nulla poena sine lege”
“No crime without law, no punishment without law”
Of course, the Cameroon legislature fully complies with this rule, and that is why it has defined many offences in relation to the social values to be respected.
Law No. 2016/7 of 12 July 2016³ on the Penal Code of Cameroon provides for offences relating to destruction of private property, public
² Philippe Conte et Patrick Maistre Du Chambon, Droit Pénal Général, Armand Collin Paris p.60