corruption - DR Congo - Equatorial Guinea - France - Gabon
Three African leaders under graft spotlight
Tuesday 02 December 2008
The presidents of Gabon, Congo and Equatorial Guinea are being investigated in France by anti-corruption groups which accuse them of embezzling public funds to acquire luxury homes in France.
Tuesday 02 December 2008
AFP - French anti-corruption activists Tuesday filed suit against the presidents of Gabon, Congo and Equatorial Guinea, accusing them of acquiring luxury homes in France with embezzled public money.
The French chapter of Transparency International (TI), the non-governmental group Sherpa and a Gabonese citizen took joint action against Presidents Omar Bongo Ondimba, Denis Sassou Nguesso and Teodoro Obiang, and several of their associates, they said in a joint statement.
They accuse the African leaders of embezzlement and misuse of public funds and of money-laundering in relation to "the acquisition of very substantial property and furniture assets in France," said their lawyer, William Bourdon.
"There is no doubt that these assets could not have been acquired with the sole salaries and benefits of these heads of state, who face serious presumptions of embezzlement of public funds," the statement said.
Transparency International has filed suit twice before, in March and July this year, to denounce the Gabonese president's acquisition of luxury homes in France, sparking a wave of protests from his supporters at home.
The initial complaints also targeted President Blaise Compaore of Burkina Faso and his Angolan counterpart Eduardo dos Santos.
Both lawsuits were dismissed by the Paris prosecutor's office, which decided not to open an investigation.
Bongo's lawyer, Francois Meyer, was not immediately available for comment on Tuesday.
French media, citing police reports, reported in March that Bongo and his family owned 33 properties in France, including a private hotel in Paris bought in 2007 for 18.8 million euros.
The reports sparked tensions between the two countries, with Gabon threatening to review relations with France.
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28/12/2008 11:37:42 Alert a moderator
Corrupt African leaders
By francofool - South Africa
The judge in France who threw out the case against those corrupt African leaders must have his name published, also it should be remarked that he is aiding and abetting more corruption and is a party to deaths of children in these countries. Corrupt african leaders are worst than nazis and no body should help them stash stolen money away.Africans are powerless today but will not remain so forever. These nazi european banks and con men who help launder these monies will be brought to book. What about Abacha, Obasanjo, Abeola, Mobutu, Idyriss, kabila, Paul biya? An olympic record list should be kept of these thieves and updated weekly and broadcast on national news to shame these crooks. Africa is not poor, their money has been unjustly shipped away by sinister european and american forces, they are killing African babies.
27/12/2008 22:31:02 Alert a moderator
THE AFRICAN'S LEADERS
By Anonyme - CANADA
I have to say that everything say against Presidents Omar Bongo Ondimba, Denis Sassou Nguesso and Teodoro Obiang, and several of their associates, is nothing but the true. These presidents are living there lives beeing presidents and steeling publics funds for their own good. This has to stop and i,m from Congo-brazzaville but living in canada. These leaders are enjoying their lives with there families while people are starving so something must be done period!!!!