Israeli tycoon sentenced over Guinea mine bribery

A court in Switzerland has sentenced the billionaire Israeli businessman, Beny Steinmetz, to five years in prison for bribery in relation to acquiring mining rights to lucrative iron-ore deposits in Guinea.

Some of the money was said to have been transferred through Swiss banks.

It has been described as the mining sector’s biggest-ever corruption case, and the BBC’s correspondent in Switzerland says it shines a spotlight on the often murky struggle for control of Africa’s natural resources.

Mr Steinmetz can appeal.