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France: Equatorial Guinea's World Court Case Is Abuse of Law

by Associated Press

   THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS --

   France told judges at the United Nations' highest court on Tuesday that
   they do not have jurisdiction in a case brought by Equatorial Guinea
   aimed at halting a Paris money-laundering case against the son of the
   African nation's president.

   Alain Pellet, a law professor representing France, told the
   International Court of Justice that Equatorial Guinea's case was a
   "flagrant and evident abuse of law."

   Equatorial Guinea filed the case with the world court earlier this
   year, saying that Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue has immunity from
   prosecution in France because of his position as vice president and
   insisting that a swanky mansion on one of Paris' most upscale avenues
   that figures in the French case is actually the country's embassy and
   cannot be confiscated.

   Equatorial Guinea lawyers on Monday asked the Hague-based court to
   impose interim measures ordering France to halt the prosecution. French
   lawyers responded by saying that the court lacks jurisdiction and --
   even if it does -- there is no urgent reason for an interim order to
   halt the Paris proceedings, which are scheduled to start next week.

   It was not immediately clear when the world court would issue a ruling.

   France said that the hearing next week in Paris would be procedural and
   it could take years for the case to progress through French courts.

   The long-running French case and the world court proceedings have again
   highlighted details of the lavish lifestyle of Obiang, whose father is
   Africa's longest-serving president. Equatorial Guinea is rich in oil
   and gas, but most of the country's population still lives in poverty.

   The same cannot be said for the ruling elite. In 2011, French
   authorities seized assets from the Paris mansion including Ferrari and
   Bugatti Veyron sports cars, expensive art works and "countless"
   high-end suits and shoes, Pellet said.

   "What was found at 42 Avenue Foch cannot possibly be associated with a
   diplomatic mission," he told judges.

   The French case is not the first time Obiang's opulent way of life has
   been targeted overseas.

   FILE - Photo provided by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
   shows the interior of the Malibu, California, mansion of the son of
   Equitorial Guinea's president, Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue, during the
   execution of a search warrant.

   In 2014, he reached a deal with U.S. authorities to sell a Malibu
   mansion, a Ferrari and Michael Jackson memorabilia to raise more than
   $30 million. The U.S. had in 2011 filed claims against Obiang's
   U.S.-based assets worth more than $70 million, alleging they were the
   proceeds of corruption.

   Obiang said after the U.S. deal that he was pleased to end the
   proceedings, even though his property "was acquired with funds earned
   in accordance with the laws of my country."