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Knives out for high-profile crime suspects

Publish date: 17 September 2018
Issue Number: 791
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: General

A wave of high-profile arrests across the continent over the past week has seen a number of politicians and personalities on the wrong side of the law as the authorities continue to clamp down on graft and other crimes against the state. Legalbrief reports that they include the sons of former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and a former Zimbabwean Cabinet Minister (see reports below). The Comoran army's deputy chief-of-staff was last week detained in connection with an alleged ‘conspiracy’ and ‘an act of terror’ against President Azali Assoumani. The arrest of Colonel Ibrahim Salim comes as the authorities impose a crackdown against senior political and military figures who challenged a series of sweeping constitutional reforms which were passed during a controversial referendum in late July. A report on the News24 site notes that the reforms notably allow Assoumani to extend his term in office and overturn constitutional measures put in place to ensure political balance in this coup-prone country. His arrest comes just days after a court formally charged Jaffar Ahmed Said Hassani – until recently one of the Indian Ocean archipelago's three Vice-Presidents – with conspiring against the state.

Full Fin24 report

Former Zimbabwe Health Minister David Parirenyatwa was arrested last week by the Serious Fraud Squad on allegations of criminal abuse of office. A report on The Citizen site notes that Parirenyatwa, who first served from 2002 to 2009 and then from 2013 to 2018, was axed last week from President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s 'new dawn' Cabinet. Since Mnangagwa took office, two Ministers have been arrested and charged with graft.

Full report in The Citizen

Staying in Zimbabwe, former First Lady Grace Mugabe’s sister, Shuvai Gumbochuma, has been arrested on allegations of fraudulently acquiring vast tracts of land from government worth more than $2m. NewsDay reports that Gumbochuma (61), who is being represented by Lovemore Madhuku, was not asked to plead to three counts of fraud when she appeared before Harare Magistrate Elisha Singano on Friday. He remanded her to 23 October on $500 bail. She becomes the fifth high-profile person to be arrested in a fresh anti-corruption crackdown ordered by Mnangagwa. The Herald reports that the state alleges that Gumbochuma ‘who had neither the capacity to pay the intrinsic land value nor to develop it’ formed and registered a company called Scanlen (Ltd) as a vehicle to effect her allegedly fraudulent transaction.

Full report in The Herald (subscription needed)

Full NewsDay report

Mubarak’s two sons were arrested on Saturday for alleged stock manipulation. A report on the eNCA site notes that Gamal and Alaa Mubarak are accused alongside three other people of failing to notify the stock market of agreements to acquire majorities in several banks through front companies. The accused attended a hearing at a criminal court in Cairo, where a judge ordered their arrest. They have been remanded in custody and their hearing has been scheduled for 20 October. Under his father's rule, Gamal Mubarak headed a key ruling party committee and was long seen as his successor. Older brother Alaa stayed out of politics but is accused of having amassed a fortune through his father's contacts.

Full report on the eNCA site

And Rwandan police say they have arrested two football officials and are investigating allegations they tried to bribe the referee before an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Ivory Coast two weeks ago. A report on the News24 site notes that the Rwanda Investigation Bureau said Rwanda Football Federation secretary-general Francois Regis Uwayezu and commissioner for competitions Eric Ruhamiriza were detained after allegations made by Namibian referee Jackson Pavaza. The Rwanda federation denied any bribery attempt and said it was ‘shocked’. The Confederation of African Football in July and August banned 18 referees, assistant referees and referee committee officials for life in bribery cases.

Full Fin24 report

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