A former top aide to Chadian President Mahamat Idriss Deby Itno has been sentenced to five years in prison for corruption by a court in the capital, N’Djamena.
Idriss Youssouf Boy, who once served as the president’s chief of staff and is both his cousin and childhood friend, was found guilty following a lawsuit filed in January by businessman About Hachim Bouder. Bouder accused Boy of extorting nearly nine billion CFA francs (approximately $15 million) over a two-year period. The funds were originally meant for infrastructure projects in eastern Chad.
Boy was also fined one million CFA francs as part of the court’s ruling. Despite the verdict, his defence lawyer Laguerre Ndjerandi claimed the ruling was shocking and argued there was no material proof to support the corruption charges. “There isn’t any material evidence proving our client’s guilt,” he told AFP.
While Boy denied receiving the full amount alleged by Bouder, he did admit to borrowing one billion CFA francs from Bouder’s company, Tchad Service. During the trial, seven witnesses confirmed financial transactions between the two men, and Bouder submitted evidence in support of his claim.
Bouder, too, received a five-year prison sentence for “passive corruption,” indicating the court held both parties responsible for the corrupt dealings. Boy’s lawyer said they plan to appeal the verdict, hoping the court of appeal will overturn the high court’s decision.
Boy had previously served as the president’s personal secretary between April 2021 and June 2022. He was removed from his position after being implicated in a separate embezzlement scandal involving the state-run Chad Hydrocarbons Company (SHT).
