Simone Gbagbo
A court in Ivory Coast on Tuesday sentenced former first lady Simone Gbagbo to a 20-year prison term on charges of “undermining state security” during post-election violence in 2010-2011 that left nearly 3,000 dead.
The wife of former Ivorian president Laurent Gbagbo was also accused of “disturbing public order” and “organising armed gangs” after her husband and his supporters rejected results of the December 2010 presidential elections showing rival Alassane Ouattara had won the contest.
The court “unanimously” condemned her to 20 years in jail, court president Tahirou Dembele said in a statement Tuesday.
Laurent Gbagbo’s son Michel, a French-born dual national from a previous marriage, was also sentenced to five years in prison for his role in the violence.
Prosecutors had asked for a lighter 10-year jail term for the 65-year-old Gbagbo.
“Simone Gbagbo most certainly participated in the composition of armed gangs,” state prosecutor
Simon Yabo Odi told the court Tuesday, adding “her men… participated in an insurrectional movement.”
Affi N’Guessan, the former head of the first couple’s political party, was sentenced to 18 months in jail for his role in the unrest, covered by the two years he has already served in detention.
PM News
No comments:
Post a Comment