Mr Patasse refuses to accept the court's authority
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Former Central African Republic President Ange-Felix Patasse has been found guilty of fraud and sentenced to 20 years' hard labour.
Mr Patasse and three other former politicians were tried in absentia in the capital Bangui. Mr Patasse lives in exile in the Togolese capital, Lome.
The ex-president, who was overthrown in a military coup in 2003, is also accused of embezzling public funds.
He has said he refuses to recognise the authority of the court.
Mr Patasse was fined 6m CFA francs ($11,715), on top of the hard labour sentence, after being found guilty on fraud charges related to activities during his time in office.
The court has referred the embezzlement charges back to an investigating magistrate for hearings at a later date.