Arrested for corruption, he must pay the price? The former Mauritanian president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, was arrested on the evening of Tuesday, June 22, at about 8pm GMT. His lawyer, Mohamed Ould Ashdo confirmed his arrest after the prosecutor's office of Nouakchott West.

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, is accused in first instance of corruption in March, and in second instance of misappropriation of public property and money laundering. However, he has always denied his actions.

Cause for prosecution

Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz ruled Mauritania from 2008 to 2019. His persecution began a few months after he left office.  In January 2020, a parliamentary commission was set up to investigate his administration during his 10 years in office.  The fruit of the investigation was released in July 2020. It is an 800-page document. 

He was indicted in a corruption case on 12 March last, along with a dozen other senior figures. Three police officers came to the home of the former Mauritanian president at around 8pm local time. They took him to court.  His interview with the judges of the anti-corruption unit did not take long. They only announced his detention.

According to reports, he and his accomplices were also charged with money laundering, illicit enrichment, and misappropriation of public funds during his presidency.  As a result, they were subsequently handed over to the guardianship of the court and Mohamed was under judicial supervision.

In May, the judge tightened these conditions by ordering his house arrest, while maintaining the obligation for him to report to the police three times a week. Thus, he needed a judge's authorisation to leave Nouakchott.

But in recent days, according to the conditions, he has not reported to the police, hence his detention.

For Me Mohameden Ould Ichidou, this decision is completely illegal, "It is a decision that violates all the laws of criminal procedure. We will show that this is only a revenge and that it has no legal basis.”

Santie

Photo Credit : allAfrica.com

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