Khaberni - A Court of Appeals in Bamako, the capital of Mali, has sentenced 5 defendants to 20 years in prison in a large-scale corruption case concerning military armament deals concluded in 2015, named the "Paramount-Embraer" case, in a judicial scene considered the most prominent in Mali's modern history.
The specialized criminal chamber issued its 20-year prison sentences against former Prime Minister Boubou Cissé, former Minister Tiéman Hubert Coulibaly, Mamadou Igor Diarra, Babaly Ba, and Mamadou Lamine Diakité, after finding them guilty of forgery, use of forged documents, corruption, harming public finances, and money laundering.
Four other defendants received 7-year prison sentences, while the court sentenced Colonel Aminata Doho to one year in prison and a fine of 5 million African francs (approximately $8,100) for money laundering. Conversely, the court acquitted 7 other defendants, among them General Mahamane Touré and Colonel Nouhoum Dabitaou.
The roots of this case date back to 2015, when Mali signed two major contracts, the first with the South African company "Paramount" to acquire 36 armored vehicles for 11 billion African francs (about $17.8 million) and the second with the Brazilian company "Embraer" to obtain 6 "Super Tucano" warplanes for 7.5 billion francs (about $12.1 million). However, the equipment was never delivered, resulting in damages estimated at a total of more than 33 billion African francs (about $53.4 million).
During that period, the main defendants held sensitive positions in the state; Boubou Cissé and Mamadou Igor Diarra served as the Minister of Economy and Finance, while Tiéman Hubert Coulibaly led the Ministry of Defense, and Babaly Ba headed the Malian Solidarity Bank. The file also included senior army leaders, notably the Chief of General Staff and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, as well as officials in the equipment, finance, and supply sectors.
The absence of several main defendants from the courtroom drew attention, as international arrest warrants were issued against Boubou Cissé and three others, and the court refused to settle for their representation by their lawyers during their absence.
