Senegal launches warrant of arrest for Wade’s son

The Senegalese government has launched an international warrant of arrest against ex-President Abdoulaye Wade’s son in connection with hundreds of millions of dollars he allegedly swindled during his father’s regime.

A leading independent daily L’Observateur reported that the special prosecutor at the newly-established court against illicit wealth Alioune Ndao launched the warrant of arrest on Tuesday evening against Karim Wade.

Mr Karim Wade who is alleged to be residing in Europe is believed to have swindled millions of dollars when he served intermittently as minister of international cooperation, air transport, infrastructure and energy between 2009 and 2012.

Three months ago with the advent of the new regime, Karim Wade faced a preliminary hearing before the court concerning the alleged ill-gotten wealth he amassed from these ministries as well as from funds provided by the Islamic world to facilitate the hosting of a conference by Senegal.

The source said the hearings on 3 and 5 July 2012 led the investigators to discover that Karim Wade held an accounts at one local and another at a regional bank in the tune of $15 million (Sh1.3bn).

The military investigators alleged that Karim Wade had fraudulently acquired the money when he served as minister of air transport.

But the youthful former minister told the investigators that the amount was offered to him by his father, ex-President Wade who is on retirement in Senegal.

Senegal’s justice minister has meanwhile insisted that Karim Wade would have to express himself clearly over that money when he faces the special court upon his arrest or will face jail terms.

The former minister is also accused of several other financial malpractices for which he is expected to be quizzed including the possession of a private jet which he used for several years.

......TAMBA MATHEW/DAILY NATION KENYA