Former Guinean Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassori Fofana was sentenced on February 27 to five years in prison for misappropriation of public funds, illicit enrichment and corruption, according to a report by Agence France-Presse, BTA reported.
This is the latest sentence handed down to a government official from the time of former President Alpha Conde by a special court set up by the junta in Guinea, AFP notes. Fofana, who has been in prison since April 2022, was President Conde's prime minister from May 2018 to September 2021, when the government was overthrown in a military coup. The former prime minister's defense has decided to appeal the verdict.
Ibrahima Kassori Fofana was found guilty by the Court for the Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes - a jurisdiction created by the military that overthrew President Conde, who ruled Guinea from 2010 to 2021.
In addition to being sentenced to imprisonment, the former prime minister will also have to pay a fine of two million Guinean francs (220 thousand euros) and 18 billion Guinean francs (two million euros) in damages and interest (two million euros). The court also ordered the seizure of money held in a bank account in Fofana's name, without specifying the amount.
“All parties can appeal”, said Judge Lansana Sumah as he read out the verdict. The prosecution had asked for the same five-year sentence for Fofana - the same request it made at a hearing on January 20.
Fofana's lawyer - Sidiki Berete, criticized the court's decision.
This is “no judgment at all. Ibrahima Kasori Fofana never made it to the courtroom. He was not given the opportunity to present his arguments. "This is a political decision aimed at eliminating a potential candidate," Berete said.
My client "is innocent," the lawyer said, expressing regret over the way the transition to civilian rule is proceeding. "We will appeal this unjust decision," Berete said. The lawyer also pointed out that the prime minister did not manage the funds for which he was convicted. The former prime minister has never been able to attend a court hearing in the case, with both he and his lawyers saying he has been suffering from health problems since the trial began a little less than two years ago.
The court convicted him of misusing 15 billion Guinean francs (more than 1.6 million euros) earmarked for the fight against Covid and for economic and social programs under Conde. Fofana is one of many former rulers and representatives of the opposition or civil society who have been imprisoned or harassed since the junta came to power, AFP notes.
Before him, the Court for the Prosecution of Economic and Financial Crimes sentenced former Defense Minister Mohamed Diane on December 18 to five years in prison and 505 billion Guinean francs (about 55 million euros) in damages and interest for the diversion of public funds, illicit enrichment, money laundering and corruption of public officials.
The military has declared the fight against corruption one of its main priorities. The junta ordered the prosecution of former President Conde and more than 180 high-ranking government officials and former ministers in November 2022 on suspicion of corruption.
The leader of the junta, General Mamady Doumbuya, has assured that there will be no "witch hunt", but the opposition says that freedoms are being violated in Guinea and that justice is being used for political purposes. Under pressure from outside, the junta has pledged to hold a constitutional referendum and hand over power to civilians by the end of 2024, but these promises have not been fulfilled.