Mauritania: Former general charges ex-president Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz at trial

Former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in Nouakchott on August 1, 2019. AFP - SEYLLOU

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On April 10, 2023, during the trial of Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, a former general claimed to have received orders from the former Mauritanian president (2009-2019) to cede part of the compound of the police academy in Nouakchott with a view to its transformation into a shopping center. "The testimonies of those who marched had no legal interest," retorted one of the lawyers of the former head of state who is on trial for alleged corruption, embezzlement of public property and money laundering.

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With our correspondent in Nouakchott, Salem Mejbour Salem

The trial of the former Mauritanian president resumed on April 10, 2023 in Nouakchott. Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has been appearing before a criminal court since 25 January 2023 for alleged corruption, embezzlement of public property and money laundering. Facts that he has always denied. But the court heard several witnesses on Monday, including a retired general and former director general of police, who renewed accusations against the former head of state.

Before the court, former General Ould Beckrime claims to have received the order from Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to give up part of the compound of the police academy of Nouakchott with a view to its transformation into a shopping center.

Continuation of trial suspended until end of Ramadan

The amount remains unknown, but Maître Lo Gourmo, who defends the Mauritanian state, denounces a sell-off of public assets: "We have seen that the general's testimony highlighted the interventionism of the former head of state. And, above all, its tendency to seize public property, to make it private business, to make it private property, through dubious transactions. »

Maître Ciré Clédor Ly, one of Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz's lawyers, castigates the method used by the court to overwhelm his client in the absence of contradictory debate: "The testimony of a witness has meaning and values only when they are submitted to an adversarial debate. This is the case with the documents on which the prosecution intends to rely, and which will also have value only when they are the subject of contradictory debates. In any case, the testimonies of those who marched had no legal interest. »

The trial was suspended again. It will resume after the Eid al-Fitr holiday, in ten days, which will mark the end of Ramadan.

► Read also Opening of the trial of former Mauritanian President Mohamed ould Abdel Aziz

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Read on on the same topics:

• Mauritania
• Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz
• Justice
• Corruption