Court to hear $50m embezzlement case

Six of Seychelles' most prominent citizens, including the former First Lady, are facing charges in a corruption scandal involving $50m of missing foreign aid. BBC News reports the money was a gift to the tiny republic 20 years ago from the UAE, intended to help the struggling islands overcome a foreign exchange shortage and pay for food. According to the charge sheet at the Supreme Court, it was siphoned off by a close ally of former President Albert René, laundered with help from others through a murky privatisation of undervalued public assets, and dispersed to bank accounts around the globe. The six defendants are businessman Mukesh Valabhji, René’s wife Laura Valabhji, former military officer Leslie Benoiton, ex-government officials Lekha Nair and Maurice Loustau-Lalanne, and former First Lady Sarah René.