Ali Bongo’s former chief of staff, released from prison last October, appeared on Friday May 24 before the Specialized Criminal Court on charges of embezzlement of public funds, complicity in embezzlement of public funds, embezzlement, money laundering and conspiracy. But Brice Laccruche Alihanga will not return to prison because he has already served his entire sentence.
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With our correspondent in Libreville, Yves-Laurent Goma
Brice Laccruche Alihanga was at the helm alongside former Mines Minister Tony Ondo Mba, who has been in prison for five years. Both are accused of having embezzled part of the money paid to the Gabonese state by the Ogooué Mining Company (Comilog), a manganese mining company.
The affair dates back to 2018. At the time, Brice Laccruche Alihanga was the powerful chief of staff of Ali Bongo and Tony Ondo Mba, Minister of Energy. The Ogooué mining company is ordered by the State to pay 181 billion CFA francs following a tax adjustment. After tough negotiations in Libreville then in Paris, Comilog agreed to pay 155 billion FCFA. Brice Laccruche Alihanga would have awarded himself 5 billion CFA francs. He would have ordered that other ministers who intervened in this matter also be given gifts. Tony Ondo Mba would have received 140 million FCFA.
“ Money was spent on service necessities », replied the accused. “ This is an embezzlement of public funds “, insisted the state’s lawyers. After a day and night of hearing, Brice Laccruche Alihanga was ordered to pay 5 billion CFA francs in damages and 100 million fine. Tony Ondo Mba is ordered to pay 1.8 billion CFA francs in damages and 100 million fines.
Maître Charles-Henry Gey, one of their lawyers, is disappointed. “ Naturally, we are not satisfied since we pleaded for acquittal. We deconstructed the accusation and despite everything, our clients were convicted. Concerning the continuation, we will speak with our customers and will decide on the follow-up to be given to this file. »
Suffering from colon cancer, emaciated and very weak, Brice Laccruche Alihanga no longer returns to prison having served his entire sentence. Tony Ondo Mba will be released this Saturday.
Read alsoGabon: Brice Laccruche Alihanga, former Franco-Gabonese cabinet director of Bongo, released on provisional release