VOA标准英语2009-France Investigating African Money Laundering

A French magistrate¹ has decided² to investigate claims that three African leaders invested millions of dollars in embezzled³ funds in property and other goods in France. The three leaders in question are Omar Bongo of Gabon, Denis Sassou-Nguesso of Republic of Congo and Teodoro Obiang of Equatorial Guinea.
　
Gabon President Omar Bongo Ondimba (L) talking to the press at the Elysee Palace in Paris (File 2006)

The complaint against the leaders of Gabon, Republic of Congo and Equatorial Guinea was filed by corruption⁵ watchdog group Transparency International, last December. It is not the first such complaint against the leaders, but it is the first that investigating magistrate Francoise Desset has decided to take up.

Daniel Lebegue, president of Transparency International's French chapter, calls the decision significant.

"It's the first time our organization, Transparency International, is recognized by a judge to act vis-à-vis acting⁶ presidents or ministers - in this case African presidents - and the judge considers we are legitimate⁷ in doing so. So that's really a historical decision, opening new perspectives to fight against corruption ... and opening the way to recovering ... stolen assets by corrupt⁴ politicians, or ministers or heads of state," said Lebegue.

The prosecutor's office, which previously⁸ opposed taking the case, now has five days to appeal the decision. But, even if it does, the magistrate can still move forward in his probe.

Transparency International claims the three African leaders invested millions of dollars in luxury property, cars and other goods in France, using money that rightfully belonged to their people. President Omar Bongo, of Gabon, has already denied those charges.

However the case evolves, Transparency International's Lebegue says the magistrate's decision has given his group the legitimacy⁹ to press other claims against corrupt leaders, elsewhere in the world.

1 magistrate   

n.地方行政官，地方法官，治安官

参考例句：

• The magistrate committed him to prison for a month.法官判处他一个月监禁。
• John was fined 1000 dollars by the magistrate.约翰被地方法官罚款1000美元。

2 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

3 embezzled   

v.贪污，盗用（公款）( embezzle的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The clerk embezzled a thousand pounds from the bank where he worked. 那个职员在他工作的银行里贪污了一千英镑。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The cashier embezzled ＄ 50,000 from the bank. 出纳员盗用了银行5万美元。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 corrupt   

v.贿赂，收买；adj.腐败的，贪污的

参考例句：

• The newspaper alleged the mayor's corrupt practices.那家报纸断言市长有舞弊行为。
• This judge is corrupt.这个法官贪污。

5 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

6 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

7 legitimate   

adj.合法的，合理的，合乎逻辑的；v.使合法

参考例句：

• Sickness is a legitimate reason for asking for leave.生病是请假的一个正当的理由。
• That's a perfectly legitimate fear.怀有这种恐惧完全在情理之中。

8 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

9 legitimacy   

n.合法，正当

参考例句：

• The newspaper was directly challenging the government's legitimacy.报纸直接质疑政府的合法性。
• Managing from the top down,we operate with full legitimacy.我们进行由上而下的管理有充分的合法性。