Senegal ex-President's son Karim Wade held over $1bn fortune

By TAMBA JEAN-MATTHEW in Dakar | Tuesday, April 16 2013 at 07:30


Karim Wade, son of former Senegalese president Abdoulaye, looks on during an ex-ruling party protest to denounce ''selective auditions" of party heads regarding investigation over possible illegal enrichment, on December 6, 2012 in Dakar. Karim has been arrested by gendarmes in Dakar, one of his lawyers announced on April 15, 2013. PHOTO | AFP

Karim Wade, the son of Senegalese ex-President Abdoulaye Wade, was Monday arrested after he failed to convince a judge on the sources of his estimated $1 billion in assets.

Special court judge Alioune Ndaw issued the warrant of arrest hours after Mr Wade's lawyers submitted a document said to be justifying his fortune.

Mr Ciré Ly, one of Mr Wade’s lawyers, confirmed the arrest of his client and described it as a "show of force".

Sources close to the court said the judge had no been "quite convinced" about the explanation offered and ordered that Mr Wade be arrested and temporarily detained.

Mr Wade was picked up from his Dakar residence by paramilitary police gendarmes and taken to the Colobane headquarters where he is said to be held in “preventive” custody.

Karim was a senior minister during his father Abdoulaye Wade's rule from 2000 to 2012, where he oversaw big infrastructure and energy projects.

Many believed he was being groomed for the presidency.

Mr Ly said the document contained 3,000 pages clearly justifying the origins of his client’s wealth and so was surprised by the judge’s order.

"We have the right and we will not allow the state to out manoeuvre us,” the lawyer told local radio.

A big crowd of mainly supporters of the former ruling party headed for the Wade family home to show their sympathy.

A judge in March gave Mr Wade a month to prepare "convincing" justification of his wealth, the deadline which expired Monday.

Karim is among nearly two dozen former senior government officials being probed by President Macky Sall's government for embezzling billions of dollars during ex-President Wade's 12 year-rule.

Those found guilty face between four and ten years imprisonment, court sources said.


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This is part of the reason why we need to vote in the opposition in Nigeria. At least we KNOW they will probe their predecessors. That is part of the beauty of democracy. We cannot keep saying 'all politicians are the same' of course they are, but part of the checks and balance in a democracy is CHANGE OF GOVERNMENT.

The feeling of invincibility at the voting polls makes the ruling party engage in kleptomania and squandermania, and then setting up panels of inquiries that lead to nowhere when public protests.