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Added on the 28/07/2021 14:00:00 - Copyright : EFE Inglés
Paris, Jul 28 (EFE).- France’s top appeals court on Wednesday upheld a corruption and embezzlement ruling against Equatorial Guinea vice-president Teodorin Obiang.A lower appeals court in 2020 confirmed the penalties against the influential vice-president, the son of the African nation’s long-serving president, which include a three-year suspended prison sentence, a 30 million euro fine and the confiscation of assets held in France.The ruling from the Court of Cassation on Wednesday is final.Judges rejected defense appeals arguing that Obiang, whose father Teodoro Obiang has been president since 1979, was protected by diplomatic immunity.French authorities confiscated assets topping 150 million euros, including a luxurious mansion located near the Arc de Triomphe which was later converted into Equatorial Guinea’s French embassy.A luxury car collection valued at 6 million euros, which included top of the line brands like Bugatti, Rolls Royce and Maserati, was confiscated from the premises.Teodorin Obiang was first convicted in 2017 and his sentence was increased upon first appeal in 2020.The confiscated assets are set to be distributed among the population of Equatorial Guinea rather than French coffers in a historic first since a change in norms approved last year.The appeals ruling comes two days after Equatorial Guinea closed its London embassy after the United Kingdom threatened sanctions. FOOTAGE BY MARIO GARCÍA.
The ruling Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea (PDGE) opens a congress where its leader, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo seems set to be nominated to run for a sixth term. In power for 42 years, the leader appears to be preferred since party elite think his son Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, nicknamed "Teodorin", is not yet ready for the role. IMAGES
French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape during a visit to the region. IMAGES
French President Emmanuel Macron meets with Papua New Guinea's Governor-General Bob Dadae at his residence, as part of his visit to the country. IMAGES
French President Emmanuel Macron meets with US Vice President Kamala Harris during a meeting on space cooperation at NASA's headquarters in Washington. IMAGES
U.S. President Barack Obama attends an outdoor arrival ceremony in heavy rain, as the first sitting U.S. president to visit Laos. Rough Cut (no reporter narration).
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