Djibouti court sentences ex-minister, police chief for phone tapping

By Mohammed Dhaysane

MOGADISHU, Somalia (AA) - A court in the East African country of Djibouti sentenced a former budget minister and former police chief to three years in prison each for obtaining secret recordings said to be between the president and top commanders, state media reported on Friday.

Bodeh Ahmed Robleh and Abdillahi Abdi Farah obtained the telephone conversations in contravention of law, said a statement by the prosecutor's office.

Farah, former police chief, was arrested earlier this year over his alleged involvement in a coup against President Ismail Omar Guelleh, who is ruling the country since 1999 and is one of the longest-serving rulers in Africa.

Two other officials – Yabeh Said Gueldon and Ibrahim Abdi Guelleh – were also sentenced to five years in jail for leaking state secrets.