French court decides not to probe African leaders

A French court has decided not to pursue an investigation into three African heads of state for money laundering linked to their assets in France.

A French judge had been seeking to investigate Gabon's late leader Omar Bongo, the Republic of Congo's President Denis Sassou-Nguesso and President Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea, following a complaint by Transparency International France, a group that tracks corruption.

But an appeals court ruled Thursday that the probe could not go forward because there was not enough evidence of wrongdoing.

A preliminary investigation had turned up numerous signs of wealth among the three leaders and their families, including luxury cars - Aston Martins, Bugattis and Mercedes - sometimes paid for in cash.

William Bourdon, a lawyer for Transparency International France, says those assets belong to the leaders' countrymen. The group said it would appeal the decision to France's highest court.

"This is a big blow, but it's just one step in a legal battle that will be long," said Maud Perdriel-Vaissiere of Sherpa, a human rights group that had also filed a complaint against the leaders.

Bongo ruled Gabon for more than 41 years until his death in June. His son Ali Bongo was sworn in as president this month following disputed elections that opposition candidates said were fraudulent.

French media have reported that Bongo's family owns abundant real estate in France - at one time, more Paris properties than any other foreign leader.

Ali Bongo's lawyer, Patrick Maisonneuve, said his client had no real estate in France. The lawyer said he could speak only for the current leader, not the rest of the family.

"We are not hostile to the idea of transparency," Maisonneuve said.

Sassou-Nguesso seized power in the Republic of Congo for a second time in 1997 with help from Angolan troops. His lawyer was not present in court Thursday.

Equatorial Guinea is Africa's No. 3 oil producer. Its leader, Obiang, has faced several attempts to topple his government since he seized power in a coup three decades ago. His government is considered among Africa's worst human rights violators.

Olivier Pardo, a lawyer for Obiang, said his client has no assets in France and that he had responded to the complaints with a slander suit.