Aliou Sow, former DAGE of the Ministry of Community Development and Social and Territorial Equity, was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC) in connection with the Covid-19 Force funds case. According to Seneweb, he is being prosecuted for overcharging the price of rice by 2,749,927,498 CFA francs. Economic operator Moustapha Ndiaye, CEO of the company CCMN, is his co-accused. However, the trader, who is based outside Dakar, has promised to appear next week when summoned by the DIC.

Aliou Sow was brought before the Dakar prosecutor's office this Friday. He is being remanded in custody pending the appointment of an investigating office to open a judicial inquiry.

On the facts

According to police sources, the public prosecutor has appealed to the DIC concerning procedure No. 564/DIC/GRI of July 17, 2023, requesting the hearing of the economic operator Moustapha Ndiaye. He was questioned about the fact that he had been contacted by the services of the Ministry of Commerce who had informed him that the Ministry of Community Development was going to contact him for an order of 30,000 tons of rice, outside of any call for competition.

Moustapha Ndiaye claimed that it was Aliou Sow, DAGE of the Ministry of Community Development, who first contacted him to inform him that his ministry needed a large stock of rice, through the Ministry of Commerce. He also informed him that the price set was the market price and that payment would be made after delivery. Mr. Ndiaye had specified that the initial order was for 65,000 tons, but that he would only be able to deliver 30,000 tons. This was accepted.

However, he issued him with a purchase order before having him sign a declaration of honour and a contract.

To give credence to his statements, Moustapha Ndiaye had filed copies of the sworn statement of the contract, the purchase order and the tax clearance certificate which were included in the file.

Summoned to receive notification of his conduct at the Dakar prosecutor's office, former DAGE Aliou Sow placed a copy of a report signed by himself on the investigators' table.