Ivory Coast: legal proceedings opened after 4 building collapses in Abidjan
The body of a victim removed from the rubble of a building that collapsed on the night of Sunday to Monday March 7, 2022 in Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
AFP - SIA KAMBOU
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
Repression against those responsible for building collapses is increasing.
Since the beginning of the year, no less than 4 buildings have collapsed in Abidjan, causing the death of 13 people and injuring dozens.
Justice has opened judicial information for each of these collapsed buildings.
And several people are behind bars.
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With our correspondent in Abidjan,
Pierre Pinto
The phenomenon of building collapses has long been experienced in Abidjan as inevitable.
However, it is the corruption and negligence of certain crooked owners, contractors or architects that cause human tragedies.
Thus, 13 people have died and dozens of others have been injured in the collapse of four buildings since the beginning of the year, causing
less and less deaf anger
.
Abidjan prosecutor Richard Adou said four proceedings were ongoing.
Prosecutions are initiated in particular for homicide and involuntary injuries, endangering the life of others, corruption or illegal exercise of the profession of lawyer, among others.
Six people have already been charged and imprisoned.
A dozen others are actively sought, according to the prosecutor.
All risk up to 10 years in prison and 10 million CFA francs in fines.
From now on, therefore, the prosecution wishes to make it known that justice acts in this type of case.
The authorities say for their part that they want to increase repression upstream, before the tragedies occur.
In 2021, more than fifty illegally constructed buildings were demolished by state services.
Nine others since the beginning of this year.
Figures that are like a drop of water in a sprawling city that is bent under real estate pressure and where 80% of buildings do not have a permit.
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To read: Ivory Coast: the development of Abidjan in the face of non-compliance with town planning rules
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