In the Central African Republic (CAR), the defamation trial of opponent Crépin Mboli-Goumba was held on March 20, 2024 in Bangui. On February 21, the head of the Patrie political party accused the RCA justice system of being corrupt up to the highest level of the hierarchy. During the hearing, he called on the prosecutor to stay on the side of the law and said: ready to spend even 20 years in prison “.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Bangui, Rolf Stève Domia-leu
In Central African Republicthe trial of Maître Crépin Mboli-Goumba, one of the opposition leaders and president of the African Party for Radical Transformation and the Integration of States (Patrie), was held on March 20, 2024 in Bangui.
On February 21, during a press conference, Crépin Mboli-Goumba accused the Central African justice system of being corrupt up to the highest level of the hierarchy. Prosecuted for defamation and contempt of court, he was arrested on March 3 at Bangui airport, while he was preparing to travel to Cameroon.
After three days in police custody, Crépin Mboli-Goumba was provisionally released and his actual appearance took place this Wednesday at the Bangui high court.
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It was around 8 a.m. that the hearing began. In the dock, Crépin Mboli-Goumba, dressed in a loincloth shirt, was surrounded by his collective of lawyers. They denounced a biased procedure. According to them : ” Maître Crépin Mboli-Goumba was illegally arrested without an arrest warrant and without a court document on instructions from the Minister of Justice. »
They therefore requested the cancellation of the procedure and the release of their client.
For its part, the prosecution rejected the idea of a political trial put forward by certain defense lawyers.
Hearing suspended
The hearing was then suspended for a short break, before resuming in the afternoon at 2 p.m. From the outset, Attorney General Benoît Narcisse Foukpio asked the defendant Crépin Mboli-goumba if his comments made during his press conference on February 21 were not defamatory of the four plaintiff magistrates. Question to which he refused to answer, before asking his lawyers to leave the room.
He called on the prosecutor to stay on the side of the law and said: ready to spend even 20 years in prison “, he declared, before adding: “ I will come out one day because men are not powerful forever. »
In his indictment, the Attorney General requested one year in prison against Crépin Mboli-Goumba and a fine of 125 million CFA francs to be paid to each of the four complaining magistrates. The Court will deliver its verdict on March 27.
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