Son of E Guinea leader goes on trial in France
PARIS: The son of Equatorial Guinea’s leader, notorious for his extravagant taste in cars, homes and Michael Jackson memorabilia, goes on trial on Monday in Paris charged with plundering his country’s coffers to fund his jetset lifestyle in France.
Teodorin Obiang (pictured), his country’s vice-president, is accused of using state money to buy a mansion on one of the swankiest avenues in Paris as well as a collection of Italian supercars and other luxury items.
His lawyers have said they need more time to prepare his defence.
The trial is the first arising out of an investigation into the French assets of a trio of African leaders accused of leading a life of luxury abroad while their citizens live in poverty.
The 47-year-old shopaholic is not expected to attend the trial where he has been charged with corruption, embezzlement, misuse of public funds and breach of trust.
US officials have already forced him to forfeit property bought with the proceeds of corruption, accusing him of “shamelessly” looting his country.
His house on Avenue Foch in Paris, which boasts a cinema, spa, hair salon and taps covered in gold leaf, is estimated to be worth around $112 million.
When French judicial officials first launched raids in Paris in 2011, they hired trucks to haul away his Bugattis, Ferraris, Rolls Royce and other cars. LONDON: New garden villages and towns will be built across England in an attempt to alleviate the housing crisis, the government said.
The villages will not be extensions of existing small towns or villages, but “distinct new places with their own community facilities,” the Guardian quoted authorities as saying on Monday.
Sites from Cornwall to Cumbria have been identified in the first round of approved locations, making them eligible for a share of a £6 million ($7,39,6440) government technical and financial support fund.
After completion, the villages may vary in size from 1,500 homes up to 10,000.
The development of the villages would be locally led by communities rather than central government, said Housing Minister Gavin Barwell.
The 600-acre former Deenethorpe airfield near Corby, Northamptonshire, is one of the sites that has been approved for a village.
The plans include a village green, shops and community hall, as well as more than 1,000 homes.
Dunton Hills, a garden village set to be built near Brentwood, Essex, will have at least 2,500 homes, as well as new Gypsy and Traveller pitches.
Three new garden towns have also been announced near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, Taunton in Somerset, and Harlow and Gilston in Hertfordshire.
Announcing the scheme, the Housing Minister said the villages will create almost 50,000 new homes from Cheshire down to Devon, while the towns will take the total to 200,000 new homes.