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CORRUPTION

France ‘failed to probe African corruption’

African leaders accused of spending embezzled millions in France continued to do so even after a probe was launched and prosecutors have refused to investigate, a lawyer said Thursday.

In November, judges were authorised to probe corruption charges against three heads of state: Congo-Brazzaville’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso, Equatorial Guinea’s Teodoro Obiang Nguema, and Omar Bongo, the late president of Gabon, who died in 2009.

Anti-corruption campaign group Transparency International (TI) had brought civil charges in 2008 accusing them and their relatives of embezzling state funds to buy cars and apartments in France worth tens of millions of euros.

TI brought the charges to bypass French state prosecutors, who are under government authority and had dropped previous cases brought against the leaders since 2007 – amid allegations of collusion between Paris and leaders of its former African colonies.

The Le Monde newspaper reported on Thursday however that extravagant purchases had continued since that suit was lodged, with the leaders and their families buying Bentleys, Ferraris, Porsches and other cars worth millions.

The lawyer representing TI, William Bourdon, said investigating judges had asked for authorisation to probe these most recent alleged purchases in addition to the earlier ones, but that state prosecutors had refused it.

“It is a staggering decision which works against the efficiency of the investigation and is in line with the prosecutors’ obstructive approach since 2007,” Bourdon told AFP.

CORRUPTION

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president

Police raided the offices of FC Barcelona on Monday, carrying out several arrests just six days ahead of the club's presidential elections, a Catalan regional police spokesman told AFP.

Barçagate: Police raid FC Barcelona offices and arrest former president
Barcelona's former president Josep Maria Bartomeu is among the arrested. Photo: Josep Lago/AFP

Spain's Cadena Ser radio said one of those arrested was former club president Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned in October, along with CEO Oscar Grau and the club's head of legal services.

But the police refused to confirm names, saying only “arrests are taking place” and adding that the operation was being run by officers from the financial crimes unit.

“We are in the process of carrying out an operation right now with agents of the financial crimes unit,” the police spokesman told AFP.

According to reports in the Spanish media, the operation is linked to last year's investigation into the 'BarçaGate' scandal, which saw the club deny hiring a company to criticise current and former players on social media to improve the image of the then-president Bartomeu.

Cadena Ser said Barca paid €1 million in six separate invoices to the company I3 Ventures, with whom the club have since cut ties.

Bartomeu resigned in October, after mounting pressure following months of controversy and a dramatic decline in performances on the pitch.

His successor is due to be elected on Sunday, when club members will choose between the final three candidates, Joan Laporta, Toni Freixa and Victor Font.

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