Mali ex-PM Boubeye Maiga arrested over corruption claims

Lawyer for Boubeye Maiga says he was arrested for his role in purchase of presidential plane.

Mali’s former prime minister, Boubeye Maiga, has been arrested for his role in the purchase of a presidential plane during the rule of deposed President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, his lawyer has said. The exact reason for the arrest was not clear, but it was related to Mali’s purchase of a jet in 2014 for $40m, his lawyer, Kassoum Tapo, told the Reuters news agency by phone on Thursday, without giving further detail. “We have not seen the case file and until then we cannot speak further,” he said.