Former Minister of Transport Sentenced ‌to ⁢11 Years Imprisonment for Corruption

The Court of Appeal of Ouagadougou‍ has sentenced⁢ Mr. Vincent Dabilgou, ​former Minister ⁤of Transport, Urban Mobility and Road Safety, to ⁤11 years⁤ imprisonment, including​ 6 years solid ⁣and⁣ a fine of 3,375,858,462 ⁢F CFA. He was found⁢ guilty‍ of⁣ theft of public funds, complicity in theft ⁤of public funds, secret financing of a political⁤ party, non-compliance with secret financing for political favor, forgery and use of forgery in private commercial writing, compliance in⁤ the use⁣ of forgery, abuse of office, illicit‌ enrichment and money laundering.

The case dates back to the coupled elections (presidential and legislative) in⁢ November 2020 when​ the New Time for Democracy party (NTD) and a number of its own activists found themselves in the eyes of the Ziniaré High ⁢Court ‌(TGI) about electoral fraud and ‌corruption.

This trial will lead to a‌ denial to the prosecutor’s office of the TGI Ouaga I, for the theft of ⁢public funds in the MTMUSR ‌for the purposes of ‌an ‍election campaign. The investigation into this new matter has been entrusted to the Higher Authority for ‌State Management and the Fight against Corruption (ASCE-LC).

Dabilgou denies the facts, but witnesses testify against him

After filing the file by the prosecutor’s ⁣office of TGI⁢ Ouaga I for judgment, the REN-LAC indicates ‌its entry⁢ into ⁣the procedure by becoming a civil party. The⁣ case starts on February 16, 2023. On the bar of judges of the TGI correctional chamber are‍ Vincent Dabilgou and⁢ 7 others including three public officials, a legal person and three people from the private‌ sector.

The 8⁤ defendants are being prosecuted for theft ‌of⁤ public funds, complicity in the theft of public funds, covert funding of a political party, compliance‌ with the covert funding of a political party, ⁤forgery and use of ⁣forgery in ‌private commercial writing, ‌compliance ⁣in the use of forgery, mis-job manipulation,​ illicit enrichment and ‌money laundering.

While Mr. Dabilgou, during the trial, denied the facts, the various witnesses who took the stand, including those​ from ⁢the ⁣defense, ⁤quoted by him, take the opposite​ view. It emerges from the ‍arguments that the MTMUSR and⁤ some ⁢of its structures such as SOPAFER-B have entered into contracts with the aim of distributing money⁢ for fake procurements, especially fuel.

Ultimately, seven out of eight defendants were found guilty in the first instance of abuse of office,​ misappropriation of public⁢ property, illegal enrichment, complicity in the‌ misuse of public‍ funds and​ illegal enrichment, covert financing of a political ‌party,⁢ receiving property theft⁤ and money laundering.

Penalties and Sentences

The main person involved, Vincent Dabilgou, receives a prison sentence ‍of 11 years ‍including 7 years and a fine of 3,375,858,462 F CFA.‌ His DAF, Jean Gabriel Séré, takes 6 years in ⁣prison, including 3‍ years and a fine of 3,375,858,462 F CFA.

Ousmane Sigué, Malick Koanda​ and Alhousseni Waneltigré Ouédraogo receive 11 years of imprisonment, including 4 years, 5⁣ years and 2 ​years​ respectively. ⁢The⁤ first receives a firm fine of 395,106,384 ⁣F ⁣CFA, ‌the second receives a firm fine of 2,460,868,092 F CFA⁢ and the third receives⁣ a firm fine of​ 269,746,092 ⁢F CFA.

Minata⁣ Coulibaly is sentenced to a suspended prison sentence of ‌4⁢ years. However, she faces a hefty fine of 10,000,000 CFA⁣ francs. Only Yassya⁣ Sawadogo,⁢ who was prosecuted for using forgery and complicity in the theft of public funds,‍ was found not guilty for the benefit of the‍ doubt.

Appeal and Revised Sentences

The defendants appeal and the case is judged⁤ again during the special session⁣ of the ⁣criminal⁤ chamber of the Ouagadougou Court of Appeal on July 22,⁤ 23 and 24, 2024. On August⁤ 26, the⁣ Court of ⁤Appeal confirms the guilt of Vincent Dabilgou, ‍Jean Gabriel Séré, ⁤Ousmane Sigué, Malick Koanda and ‍the ⁢NTD, but revise their sentences slightly down.

Therefore, Vincent ‍Dabilgou is sentenced this time to 11 years​ imprisonment including 6 years ⁤instead ‌of 7 years and receives the same fine. Ousmane Sigué and‌ Malick Koanda got away with prison sentences of 9 years, including⁣ 4 years each.

Importance of Fighting Corruption

This case confirms the results of the REN-LAC report⁤ on the observation of electoral fraud ⁤and corruption during the related elections on ⁤November 22, 2020, which concluded that money ​had ‍a decisive role in the outcome of the election.

The fight against corruption remains an essential ‍element⁢ for the political stability and economic and social development of our country. We must ensure that‌ all those‍ who ⁢are responsible for ⁢the destiny of the nation or who​ aspire to it are examples of virtue, so that the​ management of state power becomes ‌respectful of the rules of good governance.

If that is not done, those involved in corruption and⁢ bad governance must be punished​ accordingly. Furthermore, conducting this trial ‍shows that‌ tracking white collar criminals can make serious progress as long as we are ‌more committed ‍to fighting together to guarantee good⁤ morality and ⁣good ‌management of⁢ the public matter.

This is how we can establish healthy ⁢governance, bringing qualitative changes in the ⁣lives ⁤of populations.