The Rufisque DSCOS zonal brigade has arrested a former senior army officer who became a real estate predator. The man is accused of defrauding his victims of more than 20 million CFA francs.

Former soldier turned land swindler

L. Diallo, a senior officer dismissed from the national army, had converted to the land sector using fraudulent methods. His new activities consisted of targeting vacant land in the Tivaouane-Peulh area, belonging to others, in order to then cajole honest citizens looking for a roof over their heads.

The suspect lured his victims with simple, bogus deeds of assignment before defrauding them of large sums of money.

A lucrative business based on forgery

As land had become a lucrative business, the accused had prepared false deeds of transfer for four hectares located in Tivaouane-Peulh. Using these false documents, he set out to find new victims to scam.

Investigators portray the former soldier as a repeat offender with a thirst for easy money who "plucks everything in his path." His tried-and-tested methods allowed him to identify and exploit the vulnerability of people seeking housing.

Multiplication of complainants

Apart from the initial victims who filed complaints, others came forward after his arrest to join the proceedings and denounce the suspect's fraudulent actions.

Charges retained

L. Diallo is being prosecuted for:

- Forgery and use of forgery

- Fraud involving land and cash with an estimated value of more than 20 million CFA francs

- Illegal sale of national land

- Complicity in illegal occupation of land.

Judicial investigation opened

Despite his attempts to negotiate, the former officer was brought before the Rufisque High Court by the DSCOS gendarmes, according to Seneweb sources close to the prosecutor's office. Given the seriousness of the facts, the prosecutor placed him at the disposal of the investigating judge and requested the opening of a judicial investigation.