Sao Tome and Principe's Attorney-General Adelino Pereira has ordered the arrest of former prime minister Guilherme Posser da Costa for attacking him over an investigation on alleged embezzlement of aid funds.

According to reports reaching here on Thursday, Pereira told a news conference Wednesday that da Costa's immunity as a member of parliament would not be recognized as the former prime minister had been apprehended in "flagrante delicto" at the attorney- general office earlier Wednesday.

"I was the target of attempted aggression" by da Costa, who "invaded" and "partially destroyed my office," Pereira said, addingthat the alleged assault was related to his investigation into an aid fraud scandal allegedly involving many former senior government officials.

Da Costa, who served as prime minister between 1999 and 2001, appeared before a panel of investigative magistrates Monday.

Da Costa's successor, Maria das Neves, also appeared before the investigative panel Tuesday.

The aid embezzlement scandal brought down the government of dasNeves, who was sacked in September by President Fradique de Menezes, after an official audit found she and her husband, as well as senior cabinet members, had illegally benefited from the aid funds administered by the state aid office.

Source: Xinhua