On August 7, actor-artist Moussa Seck, known for his role in the series Xalisso, appeared before the criminal court of the Financial Judicial Pool (PJF) for fraud involving public funds and forgery and use of forged private documents. Tried alongside his co-defendant, Cheikh Ibrahima Kébé, a civil servant placed under judicial supervision since January 8, 2025 and prosecuted for bribery, Moussa Seck had been in detention since March 19, 2025.

At the start of the hearing, Moussa Seck's lawyers recalled that, by order of July 17, 2025, the court had authorized their client to deposit 8.84 million CFA francs with the Caisse des Dépôts et Consignations (CDC). They presented the payment receipt to the court.

When questioned, Moussa Seck denied the allegations, blaming the management of the Diamniadio employment center. “In 2021, I created a company to sell mineral water, because Senegalese theater is not a viable profession. At the local mission agency in Thiès, I was told that I was too old to benefit from funding from the General Delegation for Rapid Entrepreneurship of Youth and Women (DERJF). They referred me to the Diamniadio employment center, which approved my application after a letter of recommendation,” he said. He added, “I did not sign the contracts. The local mission put together the file with 11 employees. Then, agents, including Cheikh Ibrahima Kébé, helped me with the formalities. When the funding was released, they harassed me to get a share.” I sent 100,000 FCFA to Kébé and 800,000 FCFA in two installments to Mamadou Lamine Diop." According to Seck, only Djibril Ngom, Kounta Mbaye and Mbaye Diack were actually his employees.

Cheikh Ibrahima Kébé, an IT specialist and accountant at Pôle Emploi, disputed these allegations. “During his second visit, Moussa Seck’s contracts were incorrectly worded. I helped him correct them in accordance with the 2015 Salary Law. He sent me 100,000 CFA francs via Wave on June 1, 2022, to my personal number, even though I had given him another number. I noted the deposit on June 23, 2022, and immediately paid it back,” he explained. The judge noted an inconsistency, noting that Wave returns unclaimed funds after 15 days, and accused Kébé of receiving an undue amount as a civil servant.

The State Judicial Agent (AJE) detailed the accusations, explaining that the investigation by the National Office for the Fight against Fraud and Corruption (OFNAC) revealed a fraud network linked to the State-Employer Agreement, established during the Covid-19 crisis to support struggling businesses. This system involved the falsification of files with fictitious employees to embezzle public funds, causing damage estimated at 8.84 million CFA francs.

The civil parties, Mamadou Diallo, Mbaye Diack, Kounta Mbaye, Djibril Ngom, and Farma Diankha, unanimously stated that they had not received any money. Mamadou Diallo, who filed the complaint with OFNAC, claimed that Moussa Seck had promised him a job for him and his brother, but never followed through after receiving their documents.

Witness Modou Fall, a former employment director, testified that Moussa Seck filed an application in late 2021, claiming a partnership with the Thiès regional hospital. "He provided a NINEA, a trade register, a bank account in the company's name, and a signed contract. After verification, I approved the application to install water machines," he testified. The judge emphasized that Seck's company was fictitious, to which Fall responded that he had limited himself to legal documents, with local missions being responsible for prospecting. Khady Mbow, an agent at the Pôle Emploi (employment center) and prospecting coordinator, said she was informed of the case by the OFNAC.

The AJE, representing the interests of the state, demanded 15 million CFA francs and the confiscation of the deposited sum, considering that the defendants acted in bad faith. The civil parties Mamadou Diallo, Mbaye Diack, Kounta Mbaye and Djibril Ngom each claimed 1.8 million CFA francs, while Farma Diankha requested 2.8 million CFA francs.

Prosecutor's indictment

The financial public prosecutor ruled that the facts were established. For Moussa Seck, he requested a six-month prison sentence and a fine of 200,000 CFA francs for forgery and use of forged documents, as well as a two-year prison sentence and a fine of 2 million CFA francs for fraud involving public funds, for a total sentence of two years and 2 million CFA francs after the sentences run concurrently. "The reimbursement made does not extinguish the public prosecution. Moussa Seck believes he is playing a charade by blaming public officials, even though he attacked public funds in the midst of a pandemic without making any amends," he stated.

For Cheikh Ibrahima Kébé, the prosecutor considered that the facts of bribery were consistent, emphasizing that he received 100,000 CFA francs for a free procedure and assisted Seck in his fraudulent actions. He requested a six-month prison sentence and a fine of one million CFA francs.

Defense Plea

Moussa Seck's lawyer, Abdou Kane, pleaded for an outright acquittal, arguing that the trial wrongly targeted his client rather than the employment center. Citing a benevolent application of the law, he pointed out that Seck's wife had given birth the day before and requested his provisional release, highlighting the payment of bail.

Me Ndofane Diouf, lawyer of Cheikh Ibrahima Kébé, considered that the guilty intention was not established and requested a postponement of the proceedings without penalty or costs.

The court requested the prosecutor's opinion on Moussa Seck's provisional release. The prosecutor opposed the request, citing the risk of non-representation in court, noting that Seck had already missed a summons, requiring a warrant. Mr. Kane reassured the court of his client's good faith, as he was legally domiciled and determined to appear.

Finally, the court granted Moussa Seck provisional release and set the verdict for September 11, 2025.