In detention since September 26, the former Director General of the Senegalese National Lottery (Lonase), Lat Diop, is facing a series of severe precautionary measures, according to L’Obs. These measures include the freezing of his bank accounts, the seizure of his vehicles as well as his main residence. Worse still, they extend to all of its real estate.
Accused of embezzlement of public funds, extortion and money laundering, Lat Diop finds himself in a difficult situation. The financial investigating judge, in charge of his case, ordered these measures to protect the financial interests of the State, but they are strongly contested by Lat Diop’s lawyers. The latter denounce a strategy aimed at “depriving it of any defense capacity”, by putting it under financial pressure. According to them, their client’s bank accounts, which are now frozen, contained only modest amounts intended for the maintenance of his family.
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In addition to the bank accounts, several vehicles belonging to Lat Diop, some of which were already used by members of his family, were seized. The investigating judge also initiated proceedings aimed at confiscating his main residence and other real estate belonging to him. For the defense, these measures are only a political maneuver aimed at removing Lat Diop from the public scene, presenting him as the victim of a settling of scores.
The case takes a new turn with the accusations made by Mouhamed Dieng, ex-boss of 1XBet Senegal. According to his statements to investigators, he gave Lat Diop a sum of 5 billion FCFA, taken from his own commissions. This money, according to Dieng, would have been used for the acquisition of various real estate in Senegal, as well as for the purchase of a residence in Grenoble, France. Accusations firmly rejected by Lat Diop, who describes them as baseless.
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Lat Diop explained to investigators that he maintained tense relations with Mouhamed Dieng, in particular because of differences concerning the partnerships in place when he arrived at the head of Lonase, including that with 1XBet. He specified that he had renegotiated these agreements, thus increasing Lonase’s monthly revenues, which increased from 25 million to 2 billion FCFA. These actions, according to him, would have caused tensions, even reprisals.
The investigation into Lat Diop’s assets, carried out meticulously, led to a search of his home located in Maristes. These investigations ultimately led to his indictment and his placement under arrest warrant. For now, Lat Diop’s lawyers say they are determined to vigorously contest the precautionary measures and obtain the release of their client. They maintain that this affair is part of a desire to eliminate him from the public scene, evoking a political vendetta.
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