Malabo denounces French 'interference' over VP sentencing

<p>The government of Equatorial Guinea has described the conviction of its Vice President, Teodorin Obiang as an ‘‘unacceptable interference’‘ by a French court.</p> <p>In a press release published on Tuesday night, Malabo said it repulses acts of interference in its internal affairs by the French court.</p> <p>It added that the government of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea reserves the right to claim compensation for the damage caused to its high institutions and personalities.</p> <p>The son of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema, responsible for Defence and Security of his country, was on Monday handed a three year suspended sentence by the Paris Court of Appeal.</p> <p>The Vice president was also slapped with a 30 million euro fine for fraudulently building up a considerable heritage in France.</p> <p>Obiang, 51, was found guilty of money laundering, misuse of corporate assets, embezzlement of pubic funds and breach of trust for sums estimated at 150 million euros.</p> <p>His lawyers said they will appeal the ruling at the French Supreme Court.</p> <p><strong><span class="caps">AFP</span></strong></p>