Former Guinean Constitutional Court President sentenced to prison

Mohamed Lamine Bangoura, the former president of Guinea's Constitutional Court, has been sentenced to seven years in prison. The ruling, delivered by the Court for the Repression of Economic and Financial Offenses (Crief) on Wednesday, October 21, follows allegations regarding the mismanagement of public funds.

Bangoura was found guilty of corruption, illicit enrichment, embezzlement of public funds, and money laundering involving approximately 20 billion Guinean francs (roughly 20 million euros) intended for the institution's operations. In addition to his prison term, he received a fine of two billion Guinean francs, a five-year ban from holding office, and the confiscation of assets located in Guinea and Senegal.

Two co-defendants, former vice-president Amadou Diallo and former administrative director Sidiki Sylla, were sentenced to ten years in prison and fined five billion Guinean francs. Both individuals are currently at large, and arrest warrants have been issued. The court also ordered the three men to jointly pay 41 billion Guinean francs in reparations to the state.