Mali: fake invoices and fraud at the CNOSM
The CNOSM (Mali's National Olympic and Sports Committee) has been publicly called out by the sports minister over its financial management
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On Friday 30 January, Abdoul Kassim Fomba, Mali's sports minister, came out swinging at a press conference called to address several sensitive issues.
While the running of the football federation and the imprisonment of its president, Bavieux Touré, was one of the central topics, the National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSM) was also discussed at length, with explosive revelations contained in the two reports drawn up by the sports ministry's inspectorate and the auditor general.
16 million in fictitious equipment
Under audit and investigation for months, the CNOSM has been publicly accused of producing fake invoices, namely for fictitious equipment worth 16 million CFA francs (more than 24,000 euros).
Read also: Mali: multiple financial inspections at the Olympic Committee
The Committee was obliged to repay the sum to the State, along with other amounts (several million CFA francs) relating to transport and accommodation costs during the Olympic Games and to some of its members receiving a double salary, with the government paying civil servants salaries that were in fact already covered.
Femafoot had to repay 18 million to the State
Concerned, the minister referred the matter to the prosecutor of the economic division to decide on possible legal action. While awaiting a ruling, another national federation has also been forced to repay a substantial sum to the State (18 million), namely the Malian Football Federation.
This is bound to fuel debate over the financial management of Mali's two biggest sporting institutions and the future of their leaders, who remain determined to cling to their posts.