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UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Patasse's ex-security chief breached state security, prosecutor says

BANGUI, 17 November 2003 (IRIN) - A former commander of ousted President Ange-Felix Patasse's protection forces, Gen Ferdinand Bombayeke, was arrested on Wednesday because he had breached the internal and external security of the Central African Republic, Bangui state prosecutor Firming Feindiro said on Saturday.

State-owned Radio Centrafrique quoted Feindiro as saying that Bombayeke also stands accused of murder, assault and battery, complicity in arbitrary arrests, rape, looting, theft and destruction of public and private property.

Feindiro interrogated Bombayeke when he appeared before him soon after his arrest on Wednesday as he left the French embassy in the capital, Bangui.

Bombayeke, an air force general, had sought refuge in the French embassy since 15 March when former army chief of staff Francois Bozize ousted Patasse.

In August, Feindiro issued an international warrant of arrest for Patasse, currently in exile in Togo. He accused Patasse of having embezzled at least 70 billion francs CFA (US $126 million) during his 10-year administration.

"Bombayeke's case and Patasse's are one," Feindiro said on Saturday. He added that "only the levels of responsibility were different".

Bombayeke was reported to have led air strikes on Bangui’s northern suburbs during an uprising led by Bozize in November 2001 and during Bozize's six-month rebellion against Patasse, which ended with the coup.

After the coup, several officials who served under Patasse were arrested on allegations of embezzlement and other offences. They include former state minister Gabriel Koyambounou. No trial has been set for these officials so far.

Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict

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