Home
Business
Metro
Nation
World
Sports
Feature
Opinion
View more »Opinion Columns
Wan LixinOpinion deputy editor of Shanghai Daily
Look beyond Bob Geldof style in building a sustainable world
Forum seeks to define role in the changing world
Sunday
- Subscribe
Money-laundering probe into African leaders off
Source: Agencies |
October 30, 2009, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A FRENCH court has decided not to pursue an investigation into three African heads of state for money laundering linked to their assets in France.
A French judge had been seeking to investigate Gabon's late leader, Omar Bongo, the Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso and President Teodoro Obiang, of Equatorial Guinea, following a complaint by Transparency International France, a group that tracks corruption.
But an appeals court ruled yesterday that the investigation could not go forward because there was not enough evidence of wrongdoing.
A preliminary investigation had turned up numerous signs of wealth among the three leaders and their families, including luxury cars such as Aston Martins and Bugattis, sometimes paid for in cash.
William Bourdon, a lawyer for Transparency International France, said the group would appeal the decision to France's highest court.
Bongo ruled Gabon for more than 41 years until his death in June. His son Ali Bongo was sworn in as president this month following disputed elections.
French media have reported that Bongo's family owns abundant real estate in France - at one time, more Paris properties than any other foreign leader.
Ali Bongo's lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, said his client had no real estate in France. He said he could speak only for the current leader, not the rest of the family.
Sassou-Nguesso seized power in the Republic of Congo for a second time in 1997 with help from Angolan troops.
A lawyer for Obiang, who seized power in a coup three decades ago, said his client has no assets in France and he had responded to the complaints with a slander suit.
A French judge had been seeking to investigate Gabon's late leader, Omar Bongo, the Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso and President Teodoro Obiang, of Equatorial Guinea, following a complaint by Transparency International France, a group that tracks corruption.
But an appeals court ruled yesterday that the investigation could not go forward because there was not enough evidence of wrongdoing.
A preliminary investigation had turned up numerous signs of wealth among the three leaders and their families, including luxury cars such as Aston Martins and Bugattis, sometimes paid for in cash.
William Bourdon, a lawyer for Transparency International France, said the group would appeal the decision to France's highest court.
Bongo ruled Gabon for more than 41 years until his death in June. His son Ali Bongo was sworn in as president this month following disputed elections.
French media have reported that Bongo's family owns abundant real estate in France - at one time, more Paris properties than any other foreign leader.
Ali Bongo's lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, said his client had no real estate in France. He said he could speak only for the current leader, not the rest of the family.
Sassou-Nguesso seized power in the Republic of Congo for a second time in 1997 with help from Angolan troops.
A lawyer for Obiang, who seized power in a coup three decades ago, said his client has no assets in France and he had responded to the complaints with a slander suit.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
