Former Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, in preventive detention since June in a case of alleged corruption, underwent a “
successful
”
cardiac catheterization operation on Saturday evening
at the national cardiology hospital in Nouakchott.
Cardiac catheterization helps widen the veins for the purpose of improving the flow of blood through the patient's body.
Read also Mauritania: former President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz imprisoned
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, 65, was admitted to the military hospital Thursday for "
intensive care
" after a discomfort marked in particular by bleeding from the nose, said one of his lawyers Me Mohameden Ould Icheddou.
"
The operation was carried out successfully, with the unhesitating agreement of Mr. Aziz and after having informed his family
", specifies the press release from the National Cardiology Hospital signed by its director who is also the personal doctor of the ex-president.
His family says "fear his physical liquidation"
Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, who led Mauritania from 2008 to 2019 was admitted to Nouakchott military hospital on Wednesday evening for “
urgent care
”, one of his lawyers told AFP Mohameden Ould Icheddou on Thursday, calling on them authorities to evacuate their client abroad for "
intensive
"
care
.
The Nouakchott Court of Appeal once again rejected a request for the provisional release of the former Mauritanian leader in early November.
In a statement released Wednesday evening, his family had said "
fear his physical liquidation
" by the regime which "
failed in its attempts to liquidate it politically
".
The former head of Mauritania was charged in March with corruption, money laundering, illicit enrichment, squandering of public property, granting undue advantages and obstructing the conduct of justice.
He was detained in June in a prison in Nouakchott for non-compliance with the measures of his judicial control and disturbing public order.