“Former Guinea Minister Prosecuted for Embezzlement and Money Laundering in Huawei Case”

THE discussions continued this Wednesday, May 3, 2023, before the trial chamber of the Court for the repression of economic and financial offenses (CRIEF) in the case of Oyé Guilavogui, former minister of the Alpha Condé regime. He is being prosecuted by the Guinean State, represented by the judicial agent of the State, and the public prosecutor for embezzlement of public funds, illicit enrichment and money laundering. For this Wednesday’s hearing, it was the country representative of Huawei Guinea who continued her narration of the facts in this case, found on the spot Guineematin.com through one of her reporters.

At the helm, the country representative of Huawei Guinea, who appeared as a witness before this court, delivered her share of the truth. In her deposition, she said that the remaining $12 million was not disbursed by Eximbank. “The information concerning the amount of the remaining 12 million dollars, if I have good knowledge, these 12 million dollars were not paid by the bank. Regarding the question of why the SOTELGUI did not work, considering historical information, if I am not mistaken, I understand that in the telecommunications industry, suppliers of telephone equipment, for example Huawei, Nokia or others, they only provide the equipment necessary for the telecommunications network or services concerning. The entity is the telecommunications operator, for example SOTELGUI, Orange or MTN, which is responsible for the technical and commercial operation of the networks. In this project case, Eximbank as a caterer, reminded SOTELGUI to set up an operating team responsible for the technical and commercial operations of the networks. During the last phase of the project, the government’s overall strategy for reviving SOTELGUI changed. 320 loans from Eximbank to finance the construction of the network in search of international partners for the privatization of SOTELGUI. No investor has been selected for the finalization of the privatization”, explained the country representative of Huawei Guinea.

At the request of the special prosecutor for the referral of the case, following the interpreter’s discomfort, the president of the court sent the case back to May 10, 2023 in order to find another interpreter for the continuation of the proceedings.

Fatoumata Diouldé Diallo for Guineematin.com