Madagascar postpones Boeing 777 trial until 5 November
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Lexpress
Madagascar’s Anti-Corruption Pole has postponed until 5 November the hearing in the trial over the clandestine export of five Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft to Iran. No ruling has yet been issued; the prosecution and lawyers for Madagascar Civil Aviation, the complainant, requested the postponement, according to L’Express.
The trial over the clandestine export of five Boeing 777-200 ER aircraft to Iran has been postponed until 5 November in Madagascar, according to the Anti-Corruption Pole (PAC). No ruling has been issued in the case, which involves 38 defendants.
Lawyers for Madagascar Civil Aviation, the complainant, and the prosecution requested the postponement. Civil aviation lawyers said the case file submitted to the court was incomplete, particularly because documents were still expected from US authorities. Khushwinder Singh, an Indian national held in pre-trial detention at Tsiafahy, arrived late, also delaying the opening of the hearing.
Civil aviation lawyers argue that the case should be tried as a criminal matter rather than a misdemeanour, citing an attack on the internal security of the state. US sanctions prohibit Iran from acquiring Boeing aircraft. Lawyers for the defendants, for their part, asked the judges not to postpone the trial.
This new hearing is part of proceedings opened in September. The trial of the Boeing 777s delivered to Iran opened on 21 September, before a first postponement was announced two days later.
