A Gabonese lawmaker who was arrested in Kigali earlier this month after an altercation with an employee at Kigali International Airport, has been fined about Rwf1.28 million by a court in Libreville.

Augustin Lobelle Yembi, an independent Member of Parliament representing the second seat of Lolo-Bouenguidi in Ogooué-Lolo province, was sentenced on September 28, by the Libreville Criminal Court.

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The court imposed a fine of 500,000 CFA francs (approx. Rwf1.28 million) in addition to court costs, according to local media reports. The court delivered the ruling at first instance in an open hearing.

The case stems from an incident at Kigali International Airport on September 3, when Yembi was arrested after assaulting a RwandAir employee.

Yembi, who was transiting through Kigali, was placed in police custody. He was later handed over to Gabonese authorities following discussions between Kigali and Libreville.

Yembi’s lawyers challenged the validity of the proceedings, but the court rejected their objection and proceeded with the case, according to Gabon Media Time.

The court also reclassified the offence. Rather than retaining the heavier qualification of violence initially pursued in the proceedings, it classified the conduct as a minor violence offence and imposed the fine.