Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – A staggering sum of more than one billion FCFA has been mobilized by supporters of Farba Ngom, the detained mayor of Agnam, in an effort to secure his provisional release. The Popular Resistance Committee (CRP) spearheaded the fundraising, collecting 1.066 billion FCFA from various regions, a testament to the widespread backing Ngom enjoys despite facing serious corruption charges.

The breakdown of the contributions reflects the global reach of his support base: 270 million FCFA from within Senegal, 450 million FCFA from the West African diaspora, 554 million FCFA from Central Africa, 34 million FCFA from America, 86 million FCFA from Europe, and 43 million FCFA from anonymous donors. These donations highlight the deep-seated belief among his supporters that the charges against him are politically motivated.

Ngom himself has made a significant financial move in his bid for release. Through his legal team, he has offered real estate assets worth 43.802 billion FCFA as collateral, including 22 land titles appraised in Dakar, Thiès, Mbour, and Rufisque. Additionally, he has placed one billion FCFA in cash on the table, bringing his total deposit proposal to 44.802 billion FCFA. His lawyers remain hopeful that this third attempt since his incarceration on February 27 will lead to a favorable ruling.

Farba Ngom, a prominent figure in the ruling Alliance for the Republic (APR) party, is accused of fraudulent dealings involving 31 billion FCFA in public funds and criminal association. The case is part of a broader investigation by Senegal’s Financial Intelligence Unit, the National Cell for the Treatment of Financial Information (CENTIF), which uncovered suspected money laundering transactions amounting to 125 billion FCFA.

Investigators allege that Ngom received 31 billion FCFA from a businessman under illegal circumstances, a claim he categorically denies. His previous attempts to secure bail, including offering real estate as a financial guarantee, have been unsuccessful in persuading the investigating judge, Idrissa Diarra.

Ngom’s case is not the only high-profile corruption scandal under scrutiny. Tahirou Sarr, another key figure from the previous regime, faces similar legal challenges. Sarr remains in detention despite posting sureties in compliance with Article 140 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. He stands accused in two separate cases of public fund embezzlement, with his financial guarantees, both in cash and kind, being validated at all procedural stages by the state judicial officer.

The legal proceedings against Ngom and Sarr signal an intensified crackdown on financial crimes in Senegal. While Ngom’s supporters rally behind him, arguing that his prosecution is politically motivated, the judiciary continues to weigh the evidence in a case that has drawn significant public and political attention.