APA-Pretoria (South Africa) The controversial Gupta brothers who are on the run after fleeing money laundering and fraud charges in South Africa are seeking asylum in Cameroon and Central Africa Republic, according to Paris-based publication Africa Intelligence.
Atul and Rajesh Gupta are currently living in exile in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and fear being extradited to South Africa where they are wanted on charges of money laundering and fraud.
The Indian-born fugitives are believed to have submitted asylum applications to the authorities in Cameroon and the Central African Republic, the publication said.
It said the applications are undergoing vetting in the two countries.
The Guptas made headlines in South Africa after it emerged that they were the masterminds of an elaborate scheme under which they allegedly took charge of the levers of power and made most economic decisions and decided on the appointment of ministers during the tenure of former president Jacob Zuma.
They allegedly awarded lucrative contracts to companies owned by themselves or their associates and siphoned money out of the country.
They deny the charges.
South Africa has requested that the brothers be extradited from Dubai so that they face charges against them.
JN/APA