Beninese lawyer Joël Aïvo who unsuccessfully ran for the country’s presidency and two other co-accused have received heavy sentences of ten years in prison by the Court of Repression of Economic Offences and Terrorism (CRIET).
The famous constitutional law professor was found guilty of “money laundering and undermining state security” according to the court.
The verdict handed down on Tuesday 7 December sounds like a warning shot to his lawyers and supporters who were expecting him to be acquitted.
In addition to this heavy sentence, Aïvo will have to pay a fine of 45 million CFA francs.
Boni Sare Issiakou and Ibrahim Bachabi Moudjaïdou, his two co-accused, will have to pay 5.7 million CFA francs.
Detained for eight months, Aïvo said his prosecution was politically motivated.
He said he was paying the price for his “democratic convictions.”
“Today it’s me. who’s turn will it be tomorrow?” he told members of his family, who are stunned by his conviction.
According to Ludovic Hennebel, the his lawyer, “the power in place sends a strong signal to any political opponent who dares to shade him in the next ten years.”
The attorney spoke of a “disproportionate, excessive, abusive and absurd” sentence.
Joël Aïvo was arrested last April, the day after Patrice Talon was re-elected with 86 percent of the vote.
CRIET was interested in 50 million the lawyer had issued as a deposit during the election.
The court believed that this deposit of the candidate, who also failed to win the presidential election, would have been financed by Arnaud Houédanou, accused in the past of having fomented a coup.
Described by Talon’s critics as a “court of exception” to liquidate his opponents , CRIET will resume service on December 10 to judge former Minister Reckya Madougou who is accused of “attempting to destabilise the country and assassinate a political figure” to prevent the holding of the presidential election.
CD/lb/as/APA