Gbagbo’s Wife, Son Refused Bail

Former Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo’s wife, Simone, and his son, Michel, were on Wednesday refused bail after weeks of their anticipated release from prison. The former president’s family members, alongside 20 of his supporters had earlier applied for bail but the court moved hearing from last week to Wednesday. Gbagbo’s family lawyer, Herve Gouamene, told newsmen that the court turned down the application after hearing. “We will appeal the case because the decision of the court was wrong,’’ the West Africa correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted Gouamene as saying. The former president’s son from his first marriage and some his former ministers are held in Maca prison in Abidjan, while his wife is in the northern part of the country. Simone and Michel were arrested alongside the former president and members of his kitchen cabinet on April 11, and have been remanded in prison since the arrest. Gbagbo, who was initially held under house arrest at Korhogo in the northern part of the country, was transferred to the International Criminal Court in November to stand trial for human rights abuses.