The general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (Caf) has been investigated over allegations of dishonest management, fraud and forgery of documents in a case that prosecutors warn could “seriously tarnish Switzerland’s reputation”.
Véron Mosengo-Omba, who is also under investigation by Caf over claims of serious misconduct, has been accused of making a series of suspicious payments to Swiss bank accounts. He has denied the claims, which were revealed on Wednesday by a public disclosure from the Federal Criminal Court (FCC) of Switzerland.
The investigation by the Fribourg public prosecutor’s office was opened in February after a number of suspicious transaction reports to Swiss accounts were sent to the Money Laundering Reporting Office (MROS). Mosengo-Omba is accused of having “repeatedly obtained bonuses” five times higher than the maximum permitted in his employment contract with Caf, with the investigation said to be particularly concerned by several cash withdrawals that would hinder “any possibility of tracing the use of said funds”. The MROS also cited a “bundle of evidence, founding suspicions of acts of disloyal management to the benefit of Mosengo-Omba”.
Mosengo-Omba described the bank transfers as “legitimate” and referred to “remuneration and bonus I have received from Caf since I have held the position of general secretary”, adding “they were made in full transparency”.
He also said he had “notified the prosecutor of the canton of Fribourg of my availability to answer any queries and provide him with any information he may require”. It is understood the investigation remains ongoing after Switzerland’s federal criminal court ruled that more evidence was required to bring charges against Mosengo-Omba.
Formerly Fifa’s chief member associations officer and a close associate of the president, Gianni Infantino, after meeting him while studying law at the University of Fribourg, Mosengo-Omba was appointed general secretary of Caf in 2021. According to the Fribourg authorities, the effects of the allegations against Mosengo-Omba would be “all the more significant on the reputation of the confederation in view of the professional and academic career of the person concerned in Switzerland”.
“The suspicions regarding the use, by the person concerned, of his banking relationship with Bank C to deposit the cash resulting from the offence of private corruption, would, in the event that they were to be confirmed, seriously tarnish Switzerland’s reputation in view of the major media trial that would ensue,” they added.
In August, Caf confirmed it had opened an investigation into Mosengo-Omba after allegations of corruption were made against him. He has been accused of whitewashing the investigation, with the audit and compliance committee claiming there had been “unauthorised interference” from the general secretary.
Caf has been approached for comment.
