Haute Cour Pressures Orabank and Businesswoman in Moussa Bocar Thiam Case – Senenews

Orabank officials and businesswoman Aminata Samaké have been questioned by Senegal’s Haute Cour de Justice in connection with the Parc des technologies numériques du Sénégal (PTN) case involving former Minister Moussa Bocar Thiam, according to Seneweb.

The investigating commission, chaired by Abdoulaye Ba and composed of four other magistrates, has continued its probe despite Thiam’s non-appearance before the court. Sources told Seneweb that Orabank officials were heard on Monday, followed by Aminata Samaké, owner of Romou SASU and Sortracorp SAS, who was questioned on Wednesday.

According to the dossier, Moussa Bocar Thiam directly contacted Samaké without a tender process to award her the roadworks contract for the PTN project. Over 2 billion FCFA was subsequently paid to her, despite Ageroute’s estimates placing the work’s value at approximately 800 million FCFA.

Further details indicate that, on the minister’s instructions, the former DAGE handed over a check to a courier who delivered it to Samaké. The courier has also been heard by the investigating commission as part of the ongoing inquiry into alleged irregular procurement and disbursement of more than 2 billion FCFA linked to the PTN concession.

The case stems from a 20-year concession granted in March 2024 to EWAN ASSETS for the exploitation of the PTN in Diamniadio, with an initial payment of 5 million euros made to SENEGAL CONNECT. Subsequent ministerial correspondence authorized urgent fund releases, leading to the issuance of three checks totaling 2,351,790,600 FCFA.

Thiam has challenged the proceedings before the Haute Cour de Justice, formally requesting the Bar President intervene to block prosecutors, citing constitutional violations, lack of legal basis in the National Assembly’s internal regulations, and procedural irregularities in the accusation process. He denies allegations of embezzlement of public funds.