Former transitional President of Guinea General Sekouba Konate has reportedly pleaded guilty in the US to smuggling tens of thousands of dollars into the country.
Prosecutors say that Gen. Konate, who is also a former African Union general, attempted to smuggle more than $64,000 into the US, much of it hidden in luggage, on a 2013 flight from Ethiopia to Dulles International Airport.
Gen Konate served as the interim president of Guinea during the political turmoil in the West African country in 2010, and was later appointed by the African Union as its “high representative” in efforts to establish a standby force to intervene in conflicts in Africa.
He had been due to go on trial on Tuesday in a US court, but instead pleaded guilty to the charges.
Gen Konate’s plea may result in him getting a prison sentence of up to five-years. According to a statement he signed as part of his plea, the general called the searches improper given his status as the former president of Guinea and commanding general of the African Union forces, Reuters reports court documents to show.
