Investigation opened in Gabon after the arrest at the border of Guy Nzouba-Ndama
The former president of the perch in the Gabonese National Assembly Guy Nzouba-Ndama was re-elected as head of the Democrats party.
Here in Libreville on June 24, 2016. © SAMIR TOUNSI/AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
Guy Nzouba-Ndama, the former president of the National Assembly of Gabon, leader of the opposition party Les Démocrates, was arrested on Saturday during a customs check as he was returning from Congo-Brazzaville.
The Gabonese gendarmes found in his belongings, 1.19 billion CFA francs, or 1.5 million euros.
An investigation has been opened by the prosecution.
Advertising
Read more
According to a close friend of Guy Nzouba-Ndama, the opponent is still in police custody and should be brought before the prosecution on Monday.
The deputy prosecutor of Franceville indicates that
the money discovered in his luggage
was seized by the gendarmerie and transferred to the Public Treasury.
A report for "
illegal detention of funds
" was sent to the prosecution where an investigation was opened, said Blera Ibinga.
She cited a regulation saying that sums in excess of one million francs must be declared to customs.
An observer explains that on the contrary, as they were CFA francs, circulating between CEMAC countries, no control was justified.
"
In terms of image, it's disastrous
"
Guy Nzouba-Ndama
sees his image tarnished.
Video of the incident has spread online.
We see the gendarmerie open the suitcases of the former President of the Assembly.
Revealing inside, thousands of banknotes.
His party The Democrats denounces "
a humiliating staging
".
An opponent believes that the customs officers were probably " told
by an informant
" and that "
the search was authorized in high places
".
Nevertheless, a "
responsible for this level walking around with so much money is unacceptable
," he said.
A close to the majority believes that “
in terms of image, it is disastrous.
Especially since many people are struggling to make ends meet
.
The latter points the finger at a "
venal
" man "
in the pay of foreigners
", giving credence to the thesis of a possible financing of the Gabonese opposition by the Congolese authorities.
No comment on the Brazzaville side.
A source evokes an internal affair in Gabon and emits the thesis of a sum accumulated by Guy Nzouba-Ndama on a Congolese account when he was in office.
► To read also: In Gabon, Bertrand Zibi Abeghe was released from prison "without hatred or resentment"
Newsletter
Receive all the international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
Justice
Gabon