Benin: conviction of the former boss of the immigration services in the case of false passports
The Economic Crimes and Terrorism Repression Court (Criet), in Cotonou, Benin.
AFP - YANICK FOLLY
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The former head of the immigration services, a senior Beninese police officer, sentenced on Monday, March 7, 2022, to ten years in prison and a fine of five million CFA francs for "abuse of office" by the Economic Offenses Repression Court.
It is a case of fraudulent issuance of passports to foreigners, including six Cameroonians, which sends the divisional commissioner Florent Agbo behind bars.
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With our correspondent in Cotonou
,
Jean-Luc Aplogan
It is the director of immigration and emigration
at the time of the facts who receives the heaviest sentence.
La Criet imposes 120 months in prison for "abuse of office".
The six Cameroonians, beneficiaries of illegally issued Beninese passports, are sentenced to three years in prison.
Still against them, the Court pronounces a ban on staying on the territory of Benin for ten years, the justice demands that they be expelled, once their sentence has been served.
The case broke in mid-December last year
when the six Cameroonians holding Beninese passports were arrested at the airport on their way to Ecuador, South America.
Me Elvis Dide, one of the lawyers for the former director of immigration, who pleaded on Friday for the release of his client, comments on the decision in these terms: "
It's copy-paste of the requisitions of the public prosecutor, the judges de la Criet follow it to the letter
”.
Of the 22 defendants, there were ten acquittals and twelve convictions.
The lawyers have planned to consult first to find out whether or not they are appealing the decision.
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