Apollo 21 trial in Madagascar: life imprisonment required for the main defendants

Madagascar, Apollo 21 trial: the lawyers dispatched to defend the 20 defendants are annoyed by the multiple deviations from the legal process.

© Sarah Tétaud RFI

Text by: RFI Follow

3 min

In Madagascar, the prosecution on Wednesday evening requested life imprisonment for the two Frenchmen and 3 others of the twenty accused in the so-called "Apollo 21" case, named after the alleged attempted coup d'état and assassination of President of Madagascar.

Conspiracy and criminal association are the charges that have been brought against some of the accused.

The defense, for its part, calls for the outright abandonment of the proceedings on the grounds of a procedure marred by defects and manipulation of evidence.

The final verdict is expected within 48 hours.

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with our correspondent in Madagascar,

After the study of the last exhibits, yesterday afternoon at the end of this 8th day of trial at the Criminal Court of Antananarivo, the three Advocates General embarked on an indictment lasting 2:30.

“All 20 wanted to assassinate the President of the Republic.

They intended to commit an assassination, ”asserts Advocate General Arsène Rabe.

“But the most important point is the will of Paul Rafanoharana to commit a coup.

He wanted to become Prime Minister.

He wanted to enter the government to put an end to the mafia regime.

"

For each of the 20 defendants, the Public Prosecutor's Office issued the required sentences.

Believing that there is sufficient evidence against the two Frenchmen to maintain the charges of "association de malfaiteurs" and "conspiracy to attack the life of the Head of State and to overthrow the government", the Public Prosecutor requested life imprisonment for five of them, namely the Franco-Malagasy

presented as the main accused, his wife, the former French colonel

, their partner Aina Razafindrakoto, and the former Prime Minister General Victor Ramahatra.

The lawyers for the two Frenchmen have pleaded not guilty, and are once again calling for the annulment of the procedure, as the trial, they argue, is unfair.

“

assures us Arlette Rafanomadio, one of Paul Rafanoharano's lawyers

"

The pleadings also highlighted low blows and unfair evidence. "Why does evidence appear five months later?" How is it that the recording of an alleged conversation between my client and this "lady F" is presented all of a sudden on December 8th? This "lady F", nobody knows who it is but the bailiffs (appointed by the Attorney General, Editor's note), them, recognize with certainty in the transcription report that it is about her voice ... "s annoys Solo Radson, lawyer for Paul Rafanoharana. Another lawyer points to the lack of equality of arms. "How is it that Ms. Romy, Ms. Florence (also called" Lady F ", Editor's note), Ms. Michou, three women whose names have been mentioned many times in the file, are not even summoned? Eh,Why ? Because they are people of the Presidency! "

►

: Apollo 21 trial in Madagascar: when the exhibits disappear ...

As for the other defendants, including high-ranking active officers, elite gendarmes or the spouse of the former French soldier, the Public Prosecutor's Office leaves the judge and her assessors to decide the sentence.

This Thursday, defense lawyers will continue their argument.

Then it will ultimately be up to the Court to withdraw to deliberate and give its final verdict.

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