Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, the former president of Mauritania, was sentenced to five years in prison on Monday by a court in the capital, Nouakchott, for abusing his office to acquire ill-gotten riches.
Aziz, who ruled the crossroads country between North and Sub-Saharan Africa from 2008 to 2019, was deposed by his successor and current President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani, a former political friend.
Since January, the former president has been on trial with ten other notable persons, including two former prime ministers, for unlawful gain, abuse of functions, influence peddling, and laundering.
He was found guilty of illegal enrichment and laundering, but not of the other accusations.
The court also ordered that Aziz’s illegally obtained assets be confiscated.
The 66-year-old former head of state did not comment on the ruling.
Aziz has been detained since January 24, and he previously spent many months in prison in 2021.
The court also ordered that Aziz’s illegally obtained assets be confiscated.
The 66-year-old former head of state did not comment on the ruling.
Aziz has been detained since January 24, and he previously spent many months in prison in 2021.
He received the harshest penalty of any defendant in the trial, while two former prime ministers and two former ministers were acquitted.
“The trial we attended was a political trial, and its verdict is also very political,” one of Aziz’s lawyers, Mohameden Ould Icheddou, said.
Another of his lawyers stated that they want to appeal the verdict.
However, the verdict was described as “very lenient” by a state lawyer, Brahim Ould Ebetti.
Former heads of state are rarely prosecuted anywhere on the globe, notably in Africa. The majority of past presidents convicted in national or international courts are charged with blood crimes rather than corruption.
Another of his lawyers stated that they want to appeal the verdict.
However, the verdict was described as “very lenient” by a state lawyer, Brahim Ould Ebetti.
However, the verdict was described as “very lenient” by a state lawyer, Brahim Ould Ebetti.
Former heads of state are rarely prosecuted anywhere on the globe, notably in Africa. The majority of past presidents convicted in national or international courts are charged with blood crimes rather than corruption.
