“Badly acquired goods”: a building at the heart of the debates between Malabo and Paris
Text by: RFI Follow
The pleadings, on the sidelines of the so-called “ill-gotten gains” case before French justice, opposing Malabo to Paris before the International Court of Justice continue on Tuesday, February 18. The question of the status of the building is at the heart of the debates opened a day earlier The Hague.
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Read moreWith our correspondent in The Hague, Stéphanie Maupas
The lawyers of France must plead Tuesday February 18 in response to the pleadings of Equatorial Guinea, delivered the day before. Searched in 2012, seized six months later and confiscated by a judgment pronounced by Paris on February 10, 42, avenue Foch is at the heart of the case between Malabo and Paris. What is being played out today before the judges of the International Court of Justice is a procedure brought by Malabo in 2016, on the sidelines of the so-called “ill-gotten gains” case, which was taking place before French justice. Last week, French justice condemned Teodorin Obiang , 30 million euros fine and the confiscation of a mansion at 42, avenue Foch.
Guinean pleadings
Equatorial Guinea accuses France of having violated the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations. For France, the famous building at 42 avenue Foch is a private residence of the son of the Equatorial Guinean head of state. According to Equatorial Guinea, the 4,000 m² mansion houses its embassy.
For proof, assured the lawyers of the small oil power, the acquisition of the building in September 2011, when Malabo became the sole shareholder of the French and Swiss companies of the son Obiang, then owner of the building. Malabo's lawyers have also highlighted the supposed inconsistencies of Paris: France has not refused the taxes paid when purchasing the property and the Quai d'Orsay has sent official letters to 42 avenue Foch.
" Equatorial Guinea's mission in France would be on the street "
If the property were to be confiscated, as ordered by the Parisian judges by condemning Teodorin Obiang, son of the Head of State and Vice-President of Equatorial Guinea, to 3 years in prison suspended, the consequences would be serious, a assured Maurice Kamto, one of Malabo's lawyers. “ The confiscation of this building could deprive Equatorial Guinea of its diplomatic mission in France. And if the confiscation were executed, the mission of Equatorial Guinea in France would be on the streets. This is the truth. And how could we carry out the auction without compromising the inviolability of the premises of the mission of Equatorial Guinea, "said the lawyer.
The auction of masterpieces, luxury cars and luxury furniture, ordered by Parisian judges, remains suspended from the decision of the International Court of Justice, but also from the cassation appeal brought on Friday 14 February by the son of the President of Equatorial Guinea.
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