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Former French spy Daniel Forestier and another former agent were indicted last year for a plot to badbadinate the exiled general Ferdinand Mbaou (photo). By JOEL SAGET (AFP)
A sleepy village in the Alps reacted in shock after the discovery of the bullet-riddled body of a former French spy linked to a plot to kill a Congolese opposition leader on the edge of a riot. local road.
Daniel Forestier, 57, a former secret agent who had been living in the Alps for years, was found dead on 21 March in an isolated village outside the village of Ballaison, near Lake Geneva, on the French border. -Swiss.
Forestier, accused last year of murder against the plot of the badbadination of Congolese general Ferdinand Mbaou, had been killed five times, including to the head and heart, said Tuesday at AFP its lawyer Cedric Huissoud.
Murder in the manner of a mysterious execution provoked speculations that Forestier was targeted, either because he knew too much or because of a desire for revenge.
"It is hard to believe that this murder has no connection with his involvement in the Mbaou affair," AFP told a source close to the investigation under the guise of # 39; anonymity.
The news of the death surprised the inhabitants of the village of Lucinges, about twenty kilometers to the south of Ballaison, where Forestier, father of two children, had sat on the municipal council.
In an interview with the regional newspaper Dauphine Libere, Mayor Jean-Luc Soulat said he felt "a lot of sadness and shock".
If Forestier's espionage past was not a secret, he had used his own money to publish a semi-autobiographical novel entitled "Barbouze of the Republic" – Soulat claimed to have been launched in village life in Lucinges in 2002.
Forestier first ran a local bar called "Escapade" and then spent four years at the city council.
His lawyer stated that he "led a peaceful and clean life" and that he had never been subject to the law until he was charged in September for his plea of co – operation. badbadination, Mbaou, a critic of the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sbadou Nguesso.
Reacting to the murder of Forestier, Mbaou, who has been living in France for almost 20 years, told AFP that he was "saddened".
"I hope that his death will not prevent justice, but I am confident," he added, referring to the so-called plot to kill him. "He (Forestier) was not acting alone, there are other suspects."
His lawyers said that this highlighted the threat to the life of the Congolese politician, who has already survived an badbadination attempt in France.
"None of the protagonists in this case are safe, starting with our client," they said in a statement.
Criticize the Congolese President
In September, the investigators indicted Forestier and another former French Foreign Intelligence Service (DGSE) officer Bruno Susini for criminal conspiracy and possession of explosives as part of a plot to badbadinate him. from Mbaou.
Mbaou thinks he has been the target of criticism for criticizing one of the oldest African leaders, from what he thought was a safe distance.
The general, aged 62, is known for his virulent attacks on Sbadou Nguesso, who for 35 years has been leading the former French colony and oil – rich Central African country of 4.5 million people. inhabitants.
Mbaou fled Congo after the overthrow of his former president, the first president of the democratically elected country, Pascal Lissouba, by Sbadou Nguesso in 1997.
In 2015, he was shot in the back while leaving his home in Bessancourt, north of Paris.
No one has ever been charged for this attack.
"Bizarre affair"
Forestier, who allegedly worked as a spy for 14 years, denied any involvement in the plot and appealed against the charges.
"My client has always rejected these incredible charges, which were based on an account from only one anonymous source," said Forestier's lawyer, Huissoud, to AFP.
"This case was bizarre from the beginning," said AFP Marie-Alix Canu-Bernard, prosecutor Forestier's lawyer, Susini, adding that the two former spies were killed. They worried about their safety. details – including pictures of Forestier's house – were shared on social media.
The investigation into Forestier's murder was conducted by the same anti-crime squad in Lyon, who was investigating the plot against Mbaou.
burs-cb / adp / har
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