Four former managing directors of Mauritanian airline company, Air Mauritania, which went into liquidation in January 2008, were charged with embezzlement and held in custody Thursday evening by a Nouakchott Court judge, judicial sources confirmed Friday. The defendants included former Prime Minister Yahya Ould Ahmed Waghef, two former ministers, Sidi Mohamed Ould Biyé and Mustapha Ould Hamoud, and Isselmou Ould Khattry. The alleged embezzlement is to the tune of several billion ouguiyas (US$ 1 = 240 ouguiyas). The judge also issued international arrest warrants against two other managing directors of the former airline company, Moktar Ould Aoufa and Tidane Sylla, who are away from the country. Yet, the cases of other top officials, who had been held in custody as part of investigation were closed. The defendants are active members of the National Front for the Defence of Democracy (FNDD), an alliance of 12 political parties opposed to the 6 August military coup in Mauritania.
