Economic crimes trial: 13 former Malian airport workers sentenced to heavy prison terms

After a week of intense debate, the trial of Mamadou Ibrahim Camara, former commercial director of Mali Airports, and co-defendants came to a conclusion this Friday (August 9). The sentences imposed on the defendants range from one year in prison to ten years in prison and a collective payment of 30 million CFA francs to repair the moral and material damages suffered by Mali Airports.

Mamadou Ibrahima CAMARA, Aliou DEME, Bibata (also known as Bata COULIBALY), Mamadou TRAORE, Daouda DEMBELE, Skou SANGARE, Issa CAMARA, Seydou KOITE, Ismaila KEITA, Gaoussou KEITA, Daou SYLLA, Habib Kaba DIAKITE, Kalifa TRAORE, Hawa Traor condemned by the Special Assizes Court for crimes of damage to public property, forgery and use of forged written documents and conspiracy to favouritism

In fact, among the various statements and testimonies of the bar, it was proven that the former Commercial Director, Mr. Mamadou Ibrahima Camara, received the money collected by the collection agent Bibata, named Bata Coulibaly, but the agent had no evidence to prove his statement. She did not have to collect the amount of the charges against her. The defendant claimed to have given these data to Mamadou Ibrahima Camara and often to his hierarchical superior, Aliou DEME, who was the head of the statistics department, but also firmly questioned Bibata’s statements. “I never received any cash from Bibata,” he declared. As for Mamadou Ibrahima Camara, he stated that there was never any money problem between Bibata and him. This prompted the prosecution in the indictment to ask the court to condemn Mamadou Ibrahima Camara, Aliou DEME, Bibata, also known as Bata Coulibaly, according to law, in the event of sufficient evidence to prove that they destroyed public property.
As for the other defendants Issa CAMARA, Seydou KOITE, Ismaila KEITA, Gaoussou KEITA, Daou SYLLA, Habib Kaba DIAKITE, Kalifa TRAORE, they all clearly admitted the facts from the preliminary investigation to the crime of attacking public property.
KOITA, Ismala KEITA and Issa CAMARA admitted in the report that they had recovered a total of 6,555,580 CFA francs (6,555,058 F CFA) from MAC and used the money for their personal purposes.
As for Khalifa Traoré, he also admitted receiving the amount of Nine Million Eight Thousand Three Hundred and Sixty CFA Francs (9,881,306 CFA francs), claiming that it was given to him at the request of Mamoudou Ibrahima Camara.
Furthermore, Habib Kaba Diakite also admitted to embezzling 585.496 CFA francs (5,850,496 FCFA) that he had received from TAC but never returned to the airport cash register.
They all confirmed that the above amount had been repaid, which was also confirmed by the Mali Airports lawyer.
As regards the accused Boubacar Mahle, Hawa Traoré and Daouda Dembouleh, they were acquitted of all charges against them.
However, in its verdict, the court sentenced Mamadou Ibrahima Camara, Aliou DEME and Bibata, also known as Bata Coulibaly, to five years’ imprisonment each, suspended, and a fine of 200,000 CFA francs, taking into account that they have already served one year of their sentence.
Issa CAMARA, Seydou KOITE, Ismaila KEITA, Gaoussou KEITA, Daou SYLLA, Habib Kaba DIAKITE, Kalifa TRAORE each face a suspended sentence of 1 year and a fine of 20,000 FCFA. All the defendants will jointly pay 30 million CFA francs to Mali Airports.
Skou Sangar was sentenced in absentia to five years’ imprisonment. Mamadou Traor was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment for forgery and use of forged documents.

The father’s name is Rokia Diarra, an intern