Former French minister: Gaydamak was our spy
In interview with Le Figaro, former French interior minister, sentenced in Angolagate affair, says Jacques Chirac knew of Israeli-Russian businessman's espionage connections. He adds, 'I hope former president will take responsibility for his actions'
"Arcadi Gaydamak was an agent of the French secret service and President Chirac was aware of this," claimed former French Interior Minister Charles Pasqua in an interview Wednesday with the newspaper Le Figaro following his sentencing in the Angolagate affair.
Pasqua was sentenced to a year in prison for his part in arms and weaponry sales to the Angolan government in the 1990s. Israeli-Russian businessman Arcadi Gaydamak was sentenced in absentia to serve six years in prison for his part in the affair.
In an interview with the French daily, Pasqua pulled out all the stops to protect his name and attack his detractors. He called upon former French President Jacques Chirac to take responsibility for his part in the affair.
"I hope Chirac will take responsibility for his actions and will recognize the fact that he agreed to give Gaydamak a medal," said Pasqua. At the time, Pasqua asked Gaydamak to help the French government locate the body of a French soldier in Bosnia.
Like Gaydamak, Pasqua also did not show up in court for the reading of the sentence. "I am not afraid of jail. I will only mention that I have parliamentary immunity," he said in the interview.
Indicted in Israel, too
The Israeli-Russian businessman has been in Russia since he left Israel 10 months ago. There is no extradition agreement between Russia and France. Another indictment is pending against Gaydamak in Israel for money laundering and fraud of about NIS 650 million ($174 million) in the Yarkon Street branch Hapoalim Bank scandal.
In the indictment issued against Gaydamak as well as the others in France, it is claimed that he was involved in arms sales in the 1990s to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars to the Angolan government. During the trial, which started in 2008, the French prosecution asked that Gaydamak be sentenced to six years in prison, a request that apparently was granted.
Throughout the legal proceedings, the businessman claimed he was being politically persecuted by the authorities.
The Israeli-Russian businessman Arcadi Gaydamak was sentenced together with his partner, French businessman Pierre Falcone, were sentenced Tuesday in Paris to six years in prison for their role in Angolagate, a case of arms sales worth $790 million to Angola in the 1990s.
The huge arsenal - 420 tanks, 150,000 shells, 170,000 anti-personnel mines, 12 helicopters, six warships - shored up President Eduardo Dos Santos's regime during its vicious bush war against the UNITA rebels.
