Congo Hold-up: the BGFI, at the heart of the scandal, breaks the silence
The BGFI group reacted following the revelations of our Congo hold-up investigation.
© RFI
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The BGFI group, headquartered in Libreville, Gabon, did not wish to respond to requests before the release of the Congo Hold-up survey.
Wednesday, November 24, he broke his silence.
He denounces any dubious practices that may have been committed in the past, while ensuring that he has "cleaned up" in 2018 his subsidiary in the DRC.
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Since last Friday, 19 partner media including RFI and five NGOs have raised the issue of the embezzlement of 138 million dollars for the benefit of the former president of the DRC and his inner circle.
This survey was carried out on the basis of more than 3.5 million bank documents and even more transactions from this large African banking group with a sulphurous reputation.
Contacted on several occasions, the BGFI group, actor in this scandal, had been walled in silence so far.
But for nearly a week, the revelations have followed one another and highlight the central role played by its DRC subsidiary in the looting of the Congolese state, for the benefit of Joseph Kabila's inner circle.
The group finally broke its silence on Wednesday, November 24.
In a press release, he acknowledges having been contacted before the dissemination of the Congo Hold-up investigation, but explains having "
resolved
" not to answer it "in
order to observe the duty of discretion imposed by the ongoing investigations
" on the subject of these revelations.
► To read also: Congo Hold-up: BGFIBank, the bank of presidents
While threatening with prosecution any person participating "
in the disclosure of confidential or private information
" which concerns it, the group said "to
disapprove of all questionable practices
" which "may have
been committed in the past
" within its subsidiary in Kinshasa. .
This subsidiary was splashed by several scandals in 2016. The BGFI group claims to have taken two years later "
the necessary reorganization measures
" in its subsidiary in the DRC.
Today, the Congo Hold-up documents show that the African banking group had also begun to request the reimbursement of the shares granted free of charge eight years earlier to Joseph Kabila's sister.
But this investigation also pointed to the fact that despite the departure of senior officials accused at the time, embezzlement continued.
►
To read also: Congo Hold-up: the biggest leak of bank documents in Africa
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DRC
Congo Hold-up
Gabon
Joseph Kabila