France/Angola

Mitterrand's son could get one year in jail for Angolagate scandal

Article published on the 2009-02-12 Latest update 2009-02-12 17:32 TU

A courtroom of prosecutors Romain Victor (L) and Yves Badorc (R)
(Photo: AFP)

French prosecutors have demanded a one-year prison sentence for former President François Mitterrand's son, Jean-Christophe, at the end of a four-month trial with 42 defendants. The court heard accusations of arms-trafficking during the Angolan civil war in the 1990s.

Mitterrand, who was the President’s advisor on African affairs at the time, could be jailed for accepting “consultancy fees” in arms deals which took place between 1993 and 1998.

Russian-born Israeli businessman Arkadi Gaydamak and his French associate Pierre Falcone could get six years, as well as fines of 375,000 euros.

From top left to bottom right : Pierre Falcone, Arcady Gaydamak, Charles Pasqua and Jean-Christophe Mitterrand
(Photo: AFP)

They both live outside of France and were tried in their absence.

Others could face suspended sentences, including the former Interior Minister Charles Pasqua and writer Paul-Loup Sulitzer.

“I find that the prosecutor’s decision is extremely severe with respect to what I really did," Sulitzer told RFI. "Whether they believe me or not, I told the truth.  Frankly, I really think that the decision is very severe,”

The prosecutor cleared other defendants, including Jacques Attali, an advisor to Mitterrand from 1981 to 1991, who then became President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

“I am happy that the prosecutor has recognised my total innocence in this affair and I don’t expect any surprises from the court,” Attali told RFI.

The arms deals, dubbed Angolagate, was declared illegal by prosecutors, because it went ahead without state authorisation.

But the defendants disputed this, and produced a letter signed by French Defence Minister Hervé Morin, and claimed that the deal was carried out by a Slovak company.

In total, Angolagate involved a massive cache of weapons including 420 tanks, 150,000 shells, 170,000 mines, 12 helicopters and six warships.

And the prosecutor accused the state of ignoring the weapons dealing, in order to maintain good relations with oil-rich Angola.

“The real reasons for this laissez-faire attitude are to be found in the economic and strategic interests that lie in the background,” said Prosecutor Romain Victor.

The final verdict is expected on 4 March.