Central African Republic Soldier Sentenced To 5 Years Imprisonment For Killing Colleague
The sergeant murdered a fellow soldier in 2013 and has been sentenced to five years along with a fine.
A sergeant of the Central African Republic national army, FACA, has been sentenced to five years imprisonment and a fine of 10 million FCFA (about $20,000) for the murder of a second-class soldier in Jan. 2013.
“The court, sitting publicly and having listened to the contradictory pleas of the parties, declares the accused, Patrick Niakou, guilty of murder and accords him large attenuating circumstances,” said Marie-Martial Keyendou, the president of the court martial on Friday, Sept. 24.
The court also ordered the accused Patrick Niakou to pay civil damages of 10 million FCFA to the bereaved family.
Interviewed after the judgement was passed, the lawyer for the accused declined to make any statement as to whether he was going to appeal the sentence to any other higher jurisdiction or not.
There is however no provision for appeal of judgements passed by the court martial except a demand for presidential clemency.
The court martial is charged with trying military and assimilated personnel and this was the first time the court, which was created on March 24, 2017, was sitting.
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