Maffeu Hilaire Vanelle, affectionately known as "Vanou" by her colleagues, is actively wanted after stealing FCFA 12 million from her employer in Yaoundé. The young woman is believed to have headed to Canada, leaving behind an angry boss and clients awaiting their deliveries.
Employed as a saleswoman, Vanelle was responsible for deliveries, collecting payments, and reporting to her superiors. After collecting funds from several deliveries, she disappeared without a trace, taking the equivalent of approximately 18,000 euros. Her employer discovered the deception, realizing the extent of his trust too late.
The destination of her escape raises questions. Canada is seen by some as a discreet haven for those seeking to evade justice. Dishonest employees, accountants, or salespeople are said to prepare their departure secretly, disappearing abroad before the alarm is raised. In Cameroon, embezzlement in the private sector is punishable by law. International cooperation procedures exist between Cameroon and Canada for this type of case. For these procedures to be initiated, it is imperative that a complaint be formally filed and that the authorities are notified.
This case highlights the vulnerability of Cameroonian SMEs to internal embezzlement. Many of them still operate on trust, without a rigorous system for tracking receipts. This situation creates gaps in which malicious employees take advantage, thus weakening the financial structure of these companies.
For the time being, Maffeu Hilaire Vanelle is missing, and her employer is assessing the damage. Article 318 of the Cameroonian Penal Code criminalizes the embezzlement of property in the private sector. Article 891 of the Uniform Act on Commercial Companies and Economic Interest Groups also covers the misappropriation of company assets or funds for personal gain.
