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Gabon president's chief of staff detained in Paris over corruption claim Gabon president's chief of staff detained in Paris over corruption claim
(about 1 hour later)
The Gabonese president’s chief of staff has been briefly detained at a Paris airport on suspicion of corruption as he was about to fly back to Libreville.The Gabonese president’s chief of staff has been briefly detained at a Paris airport on suspicion of corruption as he was about to fly back to Libreville.
Maixent Accrombessi, who is very close to Gabonese leader Ali Bongo Ondimba, was detained at Paris’s main Charles de Gaulle airport “for corruption of a foreign public official”, said a French judicial source. Maixent Accrombessi, who is very close to the Gabonese leader, Ali Bongo Ondimba, was detained at Paris’s main Charles de Gaulle airport “for corruption of a foreign public official”, said a French judicial source.
However, a few hours later, his lawyer Francis Szpiner told AFP: “He is leaving soon for Gabon and will continue to carry out his duties.”However, a few hours later, his lawyer Francis Szpiner told AFP: “He is leaving soon for Gabon and will continue to carry out his duties.”
The arrest sparked fury in Gabon. A presidential statement “protested strongly” against the arrest, saying it “violates the fundamental principles of international law”.The arrest sparked fury in Gabon. A presidential statement “protested strongly” against the arrest, saying it “violates the fundamental principles of international law”.
The case in question had nothing to do with his duties as chief of staff and was an attempt to “humiliate” Accrombessi and “attack” Gabon, the statement said. The case in question had nothing to do with his duties as chief of staff and was an attempt to humiliate Accrombessi and attack Gabon, the statement said.
The arrest was part of an investigation by Paris prosecutors into the 2006 award of a contract in Gabon to a French military uniforms manufacturer.The arrest was part of an investigation by Paris prosecutors into the 2006 award of a contract in Gabon to a French military uniforms manufacturer.
Accrombessi is hugely influential in Gabon, having worked with Bongo when he was defence minister, and again when he became president.Accrombessi is hugely influential in Gabon, having worked with Bongo when he was defence minister, and again when he became president.