Financial Crime World

Unmasking White Collar Crimes in Senegal: A Quest for Justice

In a world where respectability masks deceit and corruption, understanding white collar crimes - acts of financial or administrative misconduct committed by individuals in positions of power and trust - is essential. Senegal is one of many countries grappling with these hidden, yet damaging offenses.

The Complexity of White Collar Crimes

  • Blurring lines between legal and illegal actions (African Union)
  • Difficult to investigate and prosecute
  • High-profile, powerful perpetrators create a culture of impunity

Senegal’s Response to White Collar Crimes

Anti-corruption Measures

  1. Anti-corruption Office (Bureau de Lutte contre la Corruption or BLC)
  2. 2018: Launch of mobile application “Tamdok”
  3. Amended Criminal Code (Law No. 22-03, 2003)
    • Forgery
    • Fiscal fraud
    • Trading in influence
  4. 2016: Establishment of a Special Chamber for Economic and Financial Crimes

Ongoing Challenges

  1. Limited resources for anti-corruption agencies
  2. Lack of political will and transparency
  3. Societal and cultural factors like clientelism and patronage (Africa Center for Strategic Studies)
  4. Perception of unequal access to justice

Steps Towards a Transparent and Accountable Society

  1. Public awareness campaigns about white collar crimes and the importance of reporting them
  2. Greater transparency through access to financial records and regular audits
  3. Tackle the root causes: corruption, lack of accountability, and impunity
    • Address societal and institutional factors, such as poverty, weak governance, and inadequate regulatory frameworks
  1. Fair and efficient case handling
  2. Transparent, accountable actions that lead to tangible results and rebuild public trust.

References

[1] African Union [2] International Criminal Police Organization [3] Le Monde Afrique [4] Agence Senegal Media [5] Republic of Senegal [6] L’Indépendance [7] World Bank [8] Transparency International [9] Africa Center for Strategic Studies [10] World Justice Project [11] United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime [12] Transparency International [13] United Nations Development Programme [14] Amnesty International