Cops jailed Mauritania’s former head of state Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz on Tuesday on the eve of his test for abuse of power and collecting an illicit ton of money, a legal representative stated.
The 66-year-old was first informed to report to police, but refused, defence attorneys said.
The police “came to try to find him in your home” in the resources Nouakchott, equipped with a warrant. He was jailed without incident, the legal representatives claimed.
The rare prosecution of a former African president resulted from open on Wednesday morning, with Abdel Aziz investing the evening captive.
Several other figures from his former program, likewise encountering fees of corruption, cash laundering and also illegal enrichment, were likewise arrested, a safety and security resource stated.
The ex-general pertained to power in a coup and spent 11 years at the helm. He stepped down in 2019 after two presidential terms in which he restrained a jihadist revolt intimidating the conservative West African state.
He was prospered by his previous right-hand guy, Mohamed Ould Ghazouani in the first transfer of power between elected leaders in the background of a country marked by armed forces coups and also upheaval.
In 2020, a legislative investigation was opened up into monetary transactions under Abdel Aziz’s presidency.
It looked into oil incomes, sales of state possessions, the winding up of a public firm in charge of food materials and also the tasks of a Chinese fishing company.
Charges were then brought versus Abdel Aziz as well as 11 others, consisting of among his sons-in-law, 2 previous head of states and also a number of ex-ministers and business owners.
The former head of state is suspected of collecting a fortune matching to greater than $72 million.
He has actually refused to answer concerns regarding the resource of his wealth as well as decries a political machination.
Abdel Aziz wrote in a note launched by attorneys on Tuesday that he will certainly show up in court “to safeguard his honour” versus “luxurious as well as fallacious complaints”.
He claims resistance from prosecution under the constitution.
Last Updated: 25 January 2023
