Former Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana and three ex-ministers in the Guinea-Conakry have reportedly been detained on embezzlement charges.
Ibrahima Kassory Fofana served as prime minister under ex-president Alpha Condé from May 2018 until September 2021, when the army ousted the elected government in a coup.
According to lawyer Salifou Beavogui, Fofana along with former defence minister Mohamed Diane, ex-environment minister Oye Guilavogui and former hydrocarbons minister Zakaria Coulibaly “have been charged with embezzling public funds and put in prison.”
The four are expected to go on trial next Monday.
Earlier today Guinea’s former Prime Minister Ibrahima Kassory Fofana arrived at the Central Directorate of investigations.
Lawyer Salifou Beavogui says Mr Fofana has now been charged with embezzlement alongside 3 others who were part of Alpha Condé’s government.
Corruption allegations not yet revealed
Beavogui added: “We believe that they do not deserve to be in custody as, pending evidence to the contrary, they have the right to the presumption of innocence. We are dealing with a hasty and punitive procedure.”
The four were ordered to be held after being cross-examined for three days. The details of their alleged offences have not been made public.
The detentions come amid a crackdown on alleged graft by coup leader Colonel Mamady Doumbouya.
The authorities last month razed the house of former prime minister Cellou Dalein Diallo – a three-time presidential candidate – saying it was state property that was obtained illicitly.
Diallo is also being investigated for alleged self-enrichment over the sale of assets in 2002 of the country’s bankrupt airline, Air Guinea.
He denies the allegations.