The N’Djamena High Court recently convened for a marathon session lasting over four hours to deliberate on a complex real estate dispute. A man is currently facing trial for allegedly orchestrating the sale of a single plot of land to several different buyers, a scheme involving tens of millions of francs CFA. Beyond the financial allegations, the defendant is also accused of issuing death threats.
Judicial records reveal that the accused allegedly received payments from multiple individuals, with sums varying between 52 million and 99.5 million francs CFA. This significant financial scale has brought the case to the forefront of legal proceedings in Chad.
Legal tension in the N’Djamena courtroom
During the hearing, heated exchanges took place between the defense collective and the lawyers representing the civil parties. The victims’ legal counsel is demanding the full restitution of all funds paid by their clients, along with substantial damages. They have formally characterized the defendant’s actions as a clear case of fraud.
In contrast, the defense team raised serious procedural objections, asserting that their client was illegally detained by intelligence services for three months before being presented to a judge. They argue that the land is a legitimate family asset and that the dispute was manufactured by a paternal uncle who allegedly manipulated other relatives to claim the estate of his late brother, leading the buyers to demand their money back.
Prosecution demands conviction for land fraud
The public prosecutor has called for a conviction, stating that the act of collecting large sums from multiple people for the same property constitutes a clear criminal offense. A fine of 500,000 francs CFA has been requested. However, the defense maintains that the Chadian penal code’s fraud provisions do not apply in this instance, as they claim no fraudulent maneuvers were used to obtain the money.
With both sides exerting pressure for a favorable outcome, the court has adjourned to deliberate on its final decision. This follows a similar hearing that took place earlier this month regarding the same dossier. Meanwhile, the defendant remains in custody at the Klessoum detention center awaiting the verdict.