In the narrow corridors of the Palais de Justice in Dakar, a discreet hearing took place away from cameras and indiscrete eyes. According to the revelations of the daily Libération, the former minister delegate in charge of the budget, Birima Mangara, was heard on 21 August last by the dean of judges in the context of the explosive Arcelor Mittal case. This hearing, which went almost unnoticed in the media, took place only 24 hours after that of the former Minister of Industry and Mines, Aly Ngouille Ndiaye. A chronology which demonstrates that the dossier is progressing at a measured but firm pace, under the watch of the Senegalese justice system. A tentacular affair with multiple chief accusers. According to Libération, the Dakar prosecutor’s office has opened a judicial inquiry into extremely serious crimes: association of criminals, corruption, recel, money laundering, fraud and complicity. A battery of accusations which illustrate the complexity and gravity of the dossier. The complaint, assorted by a constitution de partie civile de l’État du Sénégal, is directed against several structures of the steel giant, including Arcelor Mittal Holdings AG (formerly Mittal Steel Holdings AG), Arcelor Mittal Limited, Arcelor Mittal Holland II BV, Arcelor Mittal Mining Sénégal SA and Arcelor Mittal Infrastructures Sénégal SA. A troubling episode in 2014.
The case of Arcelor Mittal: Birima Mangara face to face with investigators
