Mauritania: Five years in prison requested against former President Aziz
In Mauritania, the verdict has finally been handed down. Former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz has been sentenced to five years in prison. The former head of state, in office from 2008 to 2019, had been on trial for ten months alongside a dozen other personalities for, among other things, illicit enrichment. He is said to have built up assets and capital of around €67 million at the time of his indictment in March 2021. The prosecutor had asked for 20 years in prison a month ago.
Former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz in Nouakchott on August 1, 2019. AFP - SEYLLOU
By: RFI Follow
Advertising
Read More
With our correspondent in Nouakchott, Léa Breuil
After five days of deliberation, the court sentenced former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz to five years in prison in front of a packed courtroom on Monday (December 4th).
Of the dozen or so charges, only two were retained: illicit enrichment and money laundering.
The Court also ordered the confiscation of the property acquired by the former Head of State and ordered the deprivation of his civil rights.
At the head of the country for ten years, the former president, who has been on trial since January, was accused, among other things, of having abused his power to amass a huge fortune.
These accusations and a sentence are strongly contested by the former president's defence group, which has always put forward Article 93, which sets out presidential immunity. They denounce, among other things, a political machination to remove the former head of state from political life and, according to Taleb Kyar, intend to appeal.
«
The political nature of the judgement is apparent, it is mainly aimed at the former president and his family and we naturally intend to appeal and continue our fight as we have begun " said Taleb Kyar. "
Lawyers have 15 days to appeal. In the event of an appeal, the Supreme Court will be responsible for deciding.
Read alsoMauritania: ex-president Ould Abdel Aziz speaks one last time at his trial
NewsletterGet all the latest international news straight to your inbox
Subscribe now
Keep up to date with all the latest international news by downloading the RFI app
Share:
Most read
1
02/12/2023
Gaza Strip: 'More than 400 targets' hit by Israel, more than 240 dead, says Hamas
2
02/12/2023
Russia: Kremlin takes over management of St. Petersburg International Airport
3
02/12/2023