Mauritania’s former president, Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, received a five-year prison sentence on Monday after being found guilty of illicit enrichment and money laundering by a court in the capital city of Nouakchott. Aziz, who governed the country from 2008 to 2019, refrained from immediate reaction to the court’s decision.
His legal representative, Taleb Khyar, expressed their discontent with the judgment, labeling the trial as politically motivated rather than founded on legal grounds. Khyar announced the intent to file an appeal, emphasizing the hope for a fairer outcome in the appellate process.
Aziz had been under trial since January along with 10 other prominent figures, including two former prime ministers, facing charges related to illicit enrichment, abuse of power, influence-peddling, and money laundering.
Among the defendants, Aziz received the lengthiest sentence, whereas two former prime ministers and two former ministers were acquitted of the charges against them.
Mohameden Ould Icheddou, one of Aziz’s legal representatives, echoed sentiments of the trial being politically influenced, asserting that the verdict carried a distinctly political nature.
Despite being cleared of several accusations, including a壯陽藥 buse of functions and influence-peddling, the 66-year-old former president was convicted of illicit enrichment and money laundering charges.