ICoast cocoa probe claims top scalp

3 hours ago

ABIDJAN (AFP) — A massive corruption probe into the cocoa industry in top world producer Ivory Coast claimed Friday the scalp of another former close ally of President Laurent Gbagbo, legal officials said.

The latest arrest was that of Jean-Claude Bayou, a member of Gbagbo's FPI political party and director of the FGCCC -- a guarantee fund for the vital coffee and cocoa producing industries.

Gbagbo ordered the probe himself and in the last few weeks 17 former top officials -- many of them previously close to the president -- have been arrested on charges of "financial fraud and embezzlement".

Besides heading the FGCCC, Bayou is a businessman who is the world's biggest producer of cocoa nibs -- nuggets of roasted cocoa beans that provide the basic ingredient of all chocolate.

Prosecutors opened their investigation into fraud at the country's cocoa institutions on May 30, publishing a list of 23 people indicted on charges of fraud. All those detained so far were named on the list.

The Ivory Coast produces some 40 percent of the world market in cocoa and some six million people are employed in the cocoa industry.

Cocoa and coffee make up 40 percent of Ivory Coast's export income and 20 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

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