Senegal Files Complaint In Paris Against Ex-President's Son
https://nigeriaafrica1.blogspot.com/2012/12/senegal-files-complaint-in-paris.html
Senegal said Wednesday it has filed a legal complaint in Paris against Karim Wade, the son of former Senegalese president Abdoulaye Wade, as part of an embezzlement probe.
"We have filed (the complaint) and we hope that a judicial enquiry will be opened. We have strong suspicions that some of the money in question has been invested in France," Justice Minister Aminata Toure told reporters.
The complaint was filed November 30 against "Karim Wade and X", a source close to the case said.
"Let's let prosecutors in Paris open a criminal investigation. The courts will hear who has the right to shed light on these matters," Toure said.
The 44-year-old Karim Wade has already been questioned by police four times in Dakar, twice in July and twice in November, over possible illegal enrichment.
He has long been criticised for alleged mismanagement of public finances and was nicknamed "super minister", or "the minister of the earth and the sky" after his father placed him in charge of international cooperation, air transport, infrastructure and energy.
He was also appointed head of the national arm of what is now the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation and tasked with major public works ahead of the group's summit in Dakar in 2008.
After he was questioned on November 15, Karim Wade was barred from leaving the country, along with six other officials from Abdoulaye Wade's regime, including four ex-ministers, who are also being investigated.
Abdoulaye Wade, who was in power for 12 years, stood down after losing in presidential elections in March to Macky Sall.
The case is being led by a special court dealing with cases of illegal enrichment, which was created in 1981 by then-president Abdou Diouf but was dormant for years until Sall reactivated it.
Abdoulaye Wade's party has accused the Sall regime of running a "witch-hunt."
The complaint was filed November 30 against "Karim Wade and X", a source close to the case said.
"Let's let prosecutors in Paris open a criminal investigation. The courts will hear who has the right to shed light on these matters," Toure said.
The 44-year-old Karim Wade has already been questioned by police four times in Dakar, twice in July and twice in November, over possible illegal enrichment.
He has long been criticised for alleged mismanagement of public finances and was nicknamed "super minister", or "the minister of the earth and the sky" after his father placed him in charge of international cooperation, air transport, infrastructure and energy.
He was also appointed head of the national arm of what is now the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation and tasked with major public works ahead of the group's summit in Dakar in 2008.
After he was questioned on November 15, Karim Wade was barred from leaving the country, along with six other officials from Abdoulaye Wade's regime, including four ex-ministers, who are also being investigated.
Abdoulaye Wade, who was in power for 12 years, stood down after losing in presidential elections in March to Macky Sall.
The case is being led by a special court dealing with cases of illegal enrichment, which was created in 1981 by then-president Abdou Diouf but was dormant for years until Sall reactivated it.
Abdoulaye Wade's party has accused the Sall regime of running a "witch-hunt."
