Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – In a significant twist to one of Senegal’s most high-profile financial crime investigations, the financial indictment chamber on Tuesday dropped a major charge against Mouhamadou “Farba” Ngom, the influential mayor of Agnam and former confidant of ex-president Macky Sall.

Ngom had been facing multiple charges, including alleged involvement in a large-scale network of illicit enrichment and embezzlement of public funds. But in a ruling handed down on July 23, the court annulled the most serious charge: “association de malfaiteurs en bande criminelle organisée” — criminal conspiracy within an organized gang.

The ruling came in response to an appeal lodged by his legal team, led by lawyers Baboucar Cissé and Alassane Cissé. They successfully argued that the charge was legally unfounded, persuading the financial indictment chamber to discard it.

The annulment marks a turning point in a case that had cast a long shadow over Ngom’s political career. The dropped charge significantly weakens the prosecution’s case, which could alter both the course of the investigation and the defense strategy moving forward.

Had it been upheld, the criminal conspiracy charge could have paved the way for a full-blown, high-profile trial.

Ngom, a prominent political figure in Senegal’s north and key player during Macky Sall’s presidency, has consistently denied wrongdoing.

The ruling also affects his brothers, Birane and Ismaïla Ngom, who are co-accused in the same case.

Prosecutors had opposed their release under electronic monitoring, citing the gravity of the allegations. However, the court sided with the defense, upholding an earlier order by the investigating judge to place both men under electronic surveillance rather than pre-trial detention.

While the legal battle is far from over, Tuesday’s decision delivers a notable reprieve for Farba Ngom and his family — and introduces fresh uncertainties into a politically sensitive case with national implications.