"Badly acquired": the diplomatic function of 42 avenue Foch in question

Text by: RFI Follow

In The Hague, hearings continue before the International Court of Justice. At the heart of this procedure is the status of the mansion at 42 avenue Foch in Paris. Malabo ensures that the building has hosted its embassy since 2011. France claims that it was then the private property of Teodorin Obiang who was sentenced last week to a three-year suspended prison sentence, a 30 million fine and to the confiscation of 42 avenue Foch.

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The fate of the mansion will only be known once the son of Obiang's cassation appeal has been decided; and after the decision of the judges of the ICJ, expected in the coming months. After the arguments of Equatorial Guinea, Monday, February 17, it was this Tuesday France's turn to develop its arguments.

For the lawyers of France, there is no doubt: 42 avenue Foch had no diplomatic function. He was none other than the sumptuous Parisian pied-à-terre of the son of the Equatorial Guinean head of state. For three hours, the French representatives countered Malabo's arguments, rejecting any accusation of violations of diplomatic law.

42 avenue Foch has been searched, seized and should be confiscated in the context of a private legal procedure, says France. The lawyers argue that the 4000 square meter building was searched. French justice had drawn up an inventory betraying the luxury tastes of its owner, without any trace of diplomatic activity.

" An abuse of law ", according to French lawyers

“ The only movable property seized during the February 2012 search was for the strictly personal use of the occupant at the time. It is enough to note that the personal effects seized all of the same size - 54, size 43 - bore for some of them a watermark, the name of Teodorin Ngoma Obiang or the initials TNO, "explained lawyer Maryline before the court. Barn.

Using letters, lawyers denounced “ an abuse of rights ” by Malabo, who for Paris wanted to make up a private home in an embassy in an attempt to prevent it from being seized.

By Friday, representatives of Malabo and Paris will deliver their final conclusions. The judges will then be able to start their deliberations.

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• Equatorial Guinea
• France
• International justice

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