The National Office in the Fight Against Fraud and Corruption has published its 2023 report. For this fiscal year, the body informs that 42 orders to open investigations were signed and 40 investigation reports were forwarded to several judicial authorities in charge of prosecutions.

The publication of reports by the supervisory bodies continues. Ofnac has published its 2023 report. In the document, it is emphasized that during « the year 2023, forty-two (42) orders to open investigations were signed by the President and notified to the Investigations Department for execution ». Serigne Bassirou Guèye and his colleagues report that « as at December 31, 2023, forty (40) investigation reports have been forwarded to several judicial prosecuting authorities ». Also, in the document, they specify that « this number brings the total of orders to open an investigation signed since 2014 to six hundred and fourteen (614) ». Furthermore, they inform that « in cases where the complainant does not provide sufficient elements likely to help identify the protagonists, the office opts for a report to the competent authorities ». They add: « These referrals, as well as referrals to the Court of Auditors (for information), are not taken into account when calculating the number of reports forwarded to the judicial authorities. »

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Having made these clarifications, Ofnac reveals that « for the year 2023, 12 investigation reports have been finalized ». Among the cases examined by Ofnac was the « Senelec-Akilee contract » of May 2020. In this case, Ofnac retained the offences of « Swindling and attempted swindling involving public funds, Embezzlement of public funds and complicity, fraudulent accounting and complicity, Violation of the provisions of the Public Procurement Code, Tax fraud ». The report also mentions the case of « issuing fishing licenses ».

In this case, the investigation found « Bribery, violation of the Maritime Fishing Code ». Serigne Bassirou Guèye’s department also looked into the « liquidator affair of the ex-Senegalese National Company of Railroads « , and found the offence to be « complicity in the crime of swindling ».

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In its 2023 report, Ofnac examined alleged cases of corruption, fraud, breach of trust and violation of a state-private agreement relating to the treatment of chronic kidney disease (dialysis). The Ofnac investigators found « passive corruption and fraud against Icp’s assistant-secretary, and fraud involving public funds against Icp’s administrator ». In addition, the document notes that « investigators have also targeted X for further investigation of any other person likely to be involved in the case ».

Following the investigations carried out, Ofnac’s Members « unanimously decided to transmit the investigation report to the Public Prosecutor ». The Ofnac body, which fights fraud and corruption, has also made recommendations to the Minister of Health. Ofnac « encourages the establishment of consumable manufacturing units in Senegal, review or lift customs duties, reduce electricity charges, improve access to dialysis care by decentralizing centres in the interior of the country and rationalizing equipment and personnel ». In the same vein, the Office recommends « training and further reinforcing nephrological and paramedical staff, including by awarding scholarships to students, and placing greater emphasis on awareness-raising and prevention ». In addition, it recommends « setting up a national coordination framework for all orders for dialysis consumables, which will enable monitoring of the kits actually used, with the keeping of a regularly updated file on the use of dialysis kits by centres, ensuring that Anacmu keeps accounts on the use of kits, and ensuring compliance with the clauses of the agreement signed between the State and private establishments ». Ofnac also calls for « a review of the way dialysis is financed, and a solution to the problem of social security coverage, by making health insurance compulsory ».

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The body also listed the offences most frequently referred to in the investigation reports submitted to the Members’ Assembly for possible transmission to the public prosecutor. Thus, in 2023, note the services of this body, « we note that mismanagement (7), fraud involving public funds, embezzlement of public funds (4) and corruption (3) account for 54%, i.e. more than half of the offences recorded ». The statistics show that  » criminal conspiracy (2), illicit enrichment (2), swindling (2), tax fraud (2) and mismanagement (2) follow with 30% ».

By Dieynaba KANE  / dkane@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH