Swiss investigation into Véron Mosengo-Omba: case dropped, bringing relief to CAF
With no grounds to open criminal proceedings, the Swiss prosecutor's office has decided to end its investigations into Véron Mosengo-Omba.
Sport News Africa · Author profile ·
Listen to this story
Audio version in preparation · read aloud by your browser meanwhile
The CAF secretary general can breathe easy. The Swiss justice system has recently closed the investigation that had been hanging over Véron Mosengo-Omba. The case, which broke in February 2024, centred on suspicions of improper management, fraud and falsification of financial documents. After months of investigation, the authorities have finally decided to drop all charges due to insufficient evidence.
Payments five times higher than the agreed amounts?
The public prosecutor's office of the canton of Fribourg had opened an investigation following reports filed by the Money Laundering Reporting Office (MROS). The authorities were looking into bank transactions linked to bonuses received by Mosengo-Omba, which were alleged to have been five times higher than the amounts set out in his contract with CAF. These payments had raised questions over their legality and justification.
Read also: Véron Mosengo-Omba, CAF secretary general, under investigation for improper management and fraud
According to the investigation documents, the funds in question were staggered payments made since Veron Mosengo-Omba's appointment in 2021. These sums, deemed "suspicious" by investigators, were at the heart of the fraud and falsification allegations.
Faced with these accusations, the CAF secretary general maintained his innocence, explaining that the disputed payments corresponded to his official salary and the bonuses provided for in his contract. "These payments were legitimate and in line with CAF practices", he said in a recent interview.
Relief at CAF
In November 2024, Veron Mosengo-Omba voluntarily travelled to Fribourg, Switzerland, to answer the authorities' questions relating to the preliminary investigations. The move was seen as a clear sign of willingness to cooperate. Alongside the Swiss investigation, CAF had carried out an internal investigation in August 2024. An internal report recommended suspending the secretary general, claiming he had obstructed the work of the governance and compliance department. The situation had heightened tensions within the governing body of African football.
In the end, the Swiss public prosecutor's office announced it was dropping the proceedings, citing a clear lack of grounds to open criminal proceedings. In a statement, CAF welcomed the decision: "CAF is delighted to note that the culture of ethics, transparency and governance, established under the presidency of Dr Patrice Motsepe, continues to be respected and applied within the organisation and its Secretariat".
An outcome that, for CAF, should allow it to move on from a crisis that threatened its image and that of its secretary general. However, questions over the organisation's internal governance remain, especially as Veron Mosengo-Omba is still in the sights of the Confederation of African Football's Audit and Compliance Committee, which recommends his suspension following a report covering the period from 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024.