Gabon president's accounts frozen

[BAK]

Gabon president's accounts frozen
BBC News Online​

Omar Bongo's relations with Paris have deteriorated in recent years
French authorities have frozen bank accounts held by Gabon's President Omar Bongo, says a lawyer in a case against Africa's longest-serving head of state.

The move comes after a Bordeaux court ordered President Bongo to return a payment made to him to release a jailed French businessman, Rene Cardona.

He was freed after his son paid more than $580,000 (£400,000) into 72-year-old Mr Bongo's account, a court heard.

Mr Bongo is thought to have more than $4m (£2.8m) in French bank accounts.

In September, a court ruled the payment to Mr Bongo had been illegal.

That verdict was confirmed at appeal on Monday.

Jean-Philippe Le Bail, a lawyer for the jailed businessman's son, told AFP news agency on Thursday: "The accounts held by Omar Bongo in two French banks have been seized."

Rene Cardona was imprisoned in 1996 after a business dispute with Mr Bongo, to whom he had sold a shipping and fishing firm.

Mr Bongo has been a close associate of a string of French leaders but his relations with Paris have deteriorated in recent years amid legal challenges by anti-corruption activists.

 

[Nono]

Ndio kazi za viongozi wa afrika kuwaibia waafrika.

Wanafahamu jinsi wazungu wanavyowatumia kuiba utajiri wa waafrika na kuwekeza ulaya, lakini hadi leo hawajifunzi. Ndio maana nashangaa sana hasa kiongozi mkubwa wa taaifa anapokuwa ombaomba kwa hawa wanyonyaji wakiati akiwa na rasilimali ambazo akizisimamia vyema vitawakwamua wananchi wake.

Kwa miafriaka, "Anza machweo hadi mawio" ndivyo tulivyo