Gambiaj.com – (Dakar, Senegal) – The financial prosecutor’s office in Senegal will shortly request the lifting of parliamentary immunity for Moustapha Diop, a sitting member of parliament and mayor of Louga, as part of an ongoing investigation into a high-profile embezzlement case involving Inspector Tabaski Ngom of the Public Treasury. Judicial sources indicate that Diop is suspected of being a key beneficiary of misappropriated public funds that were allegedly funneled into electoral campaigns during the 2024 legislative elections.
Tabaski Ngom, at the center of the scandal, has been arrested and charged with a series of serious offenses, including criminal association, money laundering, embezzlement of public funds, and interference with a computer system. The investigation has uncovered a network of suspicious financial transactions involving over 734 million CFA francs reportedly diverted from the coffers of the Energy Sector Regulatory Commission (CRS).
Ngom allegedly orchestrated the illicit movement of funds, which were distributed to various individuals, including Diop. The funds were purportedly used to finance political campaigns for the legislative elections.
In addition to Moustapha Diop, the investigation has implicated two other figures: Mor Guèye and Djim Momath Ba. Ba, who served as the former director of APROSI, a government agency focused on urban sanitation, is also the mayor of Nioro.
Parliamentary Immunity: A Legal Obstacle
Moustapha Diop, a former minister in President Macky Sall’s government, has been named in testimonies provided by Ngom and other accused individuals. However, investigators have been unable to question him due to his parliamentary immunity, which shields him from prosecution during his term in office.
“The investigators have clearly documented in their minutes that parliamentary immunity prevents them from summoning Diop for questioning,” a judicial source revealed to The Gambia Journal.
The financial prosecutor’s office has now formally requested that the National Assembly lift Diop’s immunity, a process that will require approval from parliament. This move signals the prosecutor’s determination to ensure accountability in the sprawling corruption case.
Political Fallout
The embezzlement scandal has further highlighted systemic challenges in addressing corruption in Senegal, particularly when it involves high-ranking officials or political figures. Judicial experts have called the case a litmus test for Senegal’s commitment to transparency and the rule of law.
While the legal complexities surrounding parliamentary immunity pose significant challenges, investigators are reportedly steadfast in their pursuit of justice. “We are committed to uncovering the full extent of this network and holding all responsible parties accountable,” a source close to the investigation stated.
As the legal and political drama unfolds, all eyes are now on the National Assembly to decide whether Moustapha Diop will face questioning in a case that has already rattled Senegal’s political establishment.
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