The World - News from March 1, 1988

Ousted Emperor Jean-Bedel Bokassa’s death sentence has been commuted to forced labor for life, government radio reported from Bangui, capital of the Central African Republic. Bokassa, 67, had been sentenced to death on June 12 for a series of crimes. They included conspiracy to murder, illegal detention and embezzlement of state funds, committed during his 13-year rule that ended with his downfall in a French-engineered coup in 1979. Bokassa returned home unexpectedly in October, 1986, from exile in France to stand trial. In November, the Supreme Court rejected Bokassa’s appeal for a retrial.