The Court for the Suppression of Economic Crimes and Terrorism (Criet) condemned on Saturday 21
December 2019, 14 agents of the General Directorate of Taxes to prison sentences
accompanied by fines.
Started on December 16, the hearing devoted mainly to the case of embezzlement of
public funds had its epilogue this Saturday. A total of 14 people will be sentenced
ranging from three to fifteen years. Three other individuals will be acquitted for non-constitution of the facts put to them
charged. The court, after having reclassified the facts as embezzlement of assets in lieu of embezzlement of
public funds and money laundering, delivered a verdict commensurate with the economic crime.
According to the national daily newspaper La Nation, the defendants whose names follow are facing
penalties in accordance with the crimes committed. Léila Naïma Issa, Didier Flavien Tossou, Denis Francis Akplogan
and Gislain Yaovi Toko are sentenced to 10 years of criminal imprisonment and a firm fine of 10 million FCfa
each. Fulbert Fassinou Oussou receives 15 years of criminal imprisonment and a fine of 159 million F CFA
while Jérôme Serge Linhounhinto to 15 years of criminal imprisonment and a 50 million firm fine.
It also sentences Charles Tanguy Lawin and Marcelline Constance Sèhou to 5 years in prison.
firm and 2.250 million CFA francs each firm fine, Aymard Zogo will spend 5 years in prison and will pay
1.200 million FCfa firm fine while Adounon Lambert receives 7 years of firm imprisonment and
2.250 million FCfa fine, Henri Joël Hèdiblè to 7 years of criminal imprisonment and 1.5 million FCfa
firm fine. Casinius Yaovi Assou to 5 years' criminal imprisonment and a fine of FCfa 21 million,
Aristide Aniouvi to 15 years of criminal imprisonment and 10 million CFA francs in firm fine and Clara Hounton to 3
years of firm imprisonment and a fine of FCfa 750,000.
In addition, the court condemns the 14 defendants jointly and severally to pay a sum of 500 million of our
francs to the Beninese State constituted as a civil party and represented by the Ajt. The court also, in its
deliberation, pronounced the outright release of Saïd Sacca Abdoul Passot, Arouna Barogui and
Augustino Tambabou for non-constitution of the offenses charged to them. She orders them to be put in
freedom unless they are detained for another reason. The defendants have 72 hours to appeal in cassation in case
of dissatisfaction.