El Ha Diop, a former Sonatel employee with multiple convictions for fraud, appeared before the Mbour High Court for a new fraud case. Dismissed in 2024 and claiming to have been wronged by his former employer, he allegedly sought revenge against Orange by targeting managers of multi-service businesses between Dakar and the Petite Côte region.

His modus operandi: a fake vest and a fake app

Taking advantage of the eve of Tabaski, reports L'Observateur, which attended the hearing, the accused went to the Mbour fishing pier to target I. Diouf, a well-known multi-service manager. Wearing a vest and a badge bearing the phone company's logo, he gained his victim's trust by offering to install a "new application" designed to optimize his transactions. Once he had the phone in his possession, details the daily newspaper of the Futurs Médias Group, the defendant discreetly made a fraudulent transfer of 114,500 FCFA to his own account before fleeing. Caught by market vendors after the theft was discovered, he was handed over to the police.

A "revenge" against Orange to justify its actions

In court, the father admitted to all the charges, attempting to justify his actions by citing a financial dispute with his former employer:

“I’ve been unemployed since 2024 and I have no source of income. I have a family to support, especially during this Tabaski holiday. Orange is the cause of all my misfortune. This company owes me significant sums of money that it still refuses to pay me, even though I worked hard for it.”

According to his explanation, targeting the Orange Money accounts of managers in Petite-Côte was his way of satisfying his revenge against the operator.

One year of imprisonment requested

This argument failed to sway the public prosecutor, who condemned the defendant's status as a repeat offender, noting that he had only just completed a six-month prison sentence in Thiès. The prosecution requested a one-year prison sentence and a fine of 200,000 CFA francs. For its part, the plaintiff is demanding full reimbursement of the 114,500 CFA francs.

The court has taken the case under advisement, and the verdict is expected on June 9, the same source reports.

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