Soldiers accused of stealing
2004-09-22 08:23
Paris - A dozen French soldiers on mission in Ivory Coast were placed under investigation on Tuesday for allegedly stealing tens of thousands worth of euros in funds from a bank they were guarding in the west African country, judicial officials said.
The soldiers, part of France's 4 000-strong Licorne force in the divided former colony, went before the Armed Forces Tribunal in Paris and were placed under investigation - a step short of being charged - for robbery and receiving stolen goods, the officials said.
It was the second case in less than a year of soldiers from the French force allegedly stealing from an Ivory Coast bank. Four were placed under investigation in January for taking money from a bank in the town of Bouake.
The 12 soldiers in the latest incident admitted to emptying funds from the coffers of the bank in the western town of Man while on guard duty there over a two-month period in July and August, the judicial officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Bank notes being exchanged
A French military spokesperson, Jacques Combarieu, who announced the arrests on Monday in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast capital, said the men allegedly took 65 million West African CFA francs ($100 000). However, the judicial officials here put the sum at 100 million CFA francs.
The soldiers allegedly used the stolen money to buy items as diverse as cameras and rhinoceros horns, the officials said.
A large part of the stolen funds was recovered, according to Eric Morain, lawyer for seven of the 12 soldiers.
Morain said the majority of the soldiers were on their first overseas postings.
"I'm amazed at the ease with which simple soldiers could ... serve themselves up at this bank," Morain said.
The operation occurred while West African CFA francs used there were being exchanged for new notes so that money stolen during the Ivory Coast conflict would be made worthless.
France's Licorne force is backing up a United Nations peace force. They all are helping to enforce cease-fires in the conflict and man buffer zones between rebels in the north and west and the government-held south.
The bank in Man is located in a rebel zone.
- AP