Teodorin
Nguema Obiang, the son of Equatorial Guinea’s president, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo,
who is also Yahya Jammeh’s host, has received a 3-year jail term and handed a
30 million euro fine by a court in Paris, France.
The accused
who is also the vice president (VP), was accused of not only “persistent human
right violations” but also “looting the government’s coffers with impunity.”
Teodorin was
earlier convicted in 2017 of ‘‘theft and embezzlement’’ but vowed to appeal
before French Justice. Subsequently, he was eventually issued the suspended
3-year jail term for misusing public fund for an ‘‘ostentatious and
flamboyant’’ lifestyle across Europe.
Following the
first ‘‘ill-gotten wealth’’ trial, the Paris Court this time round went afar
the conviction that was handed down at the first instance and subsequently
delivered a heavier conviction.
It could also
be recalled that the Criminal Court had enforced the same prison sentence but
also deferred the fine even though the amount reportedly stolen in France trial
alone amounted to 150 million euros.
Teodorin, who
was promoted by his father in an attempt to succeed him and publicly criticized
by his opponents had failed to appear during both trials despite threat to
recover all his ‘properties’.
Prosecutors
and human rights activists who vowed to ‘‘stop the looting and violations’’
asked the court to seize all the ‘‘stolen possessions’’ and the court did
exactly that.
Right groups
across Europe also maintained that while his people are still living in
“poverty and malnutrition,” Yahya Jammeh’s host engaged in “incredible
extravagance.”
Equally the
International Community is worried that President Obiang who has ruled his
country with an ‘‘iron fist’’ for 40 years and constantly being accused of
rampant corruption, torture and extrajudicial killings may eventually drive the
county into turmoil.
The court
also uncovered that Obiang did not only unlawfully purchase several expensive
sport cars as well as Michael Jackson’s memorabilia, but he also owned numerous
mansions across Europe.
Yahya’s host
who came to power in a military coup overthrew his uncle in a bloody rebellion
in 1979. He has accused his opponents of trying to ‘’undemocratically’’ chase
him out of office.
