Mauritania: Moroccan Man Accused of Murdering Mauritanian Businessman

The trial of a 32 year-old Moroccan national, accused of murdering a Mauritanian businessman, started in Nouakchott on Sunday at the Criminal Court, under tight police surveillance.

Mustapha Lehman, who says be the unique perpetrator of this crime that took place on November 18th, is facing capital punishment if found guilty. His pregnant wife was released by the police, along with six people working for Lehman, including three Moroccan nationals.

Lehman, who owed US $ 30,000 to the victim, Mohamed Ould Mohamed Lamine Ould Bouh, confessed he shot the Mauritanian businessman twice in the back. Autopsy later revealed that the victim died of suffocation.

The investigation revealed that Lehman and his wife had booked a plane ticket for Morocco on November 20th, two days after the murder.