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In a courtroom review this week, judges kept Senegalese entrepreneur Kabirou Mbodje behind bars, rejecting a bid for release as he faces rape allegations from eight women.
Mbodje, 61, founded the money transfer company Wari, a brand that once spread across West Africa and beyond. French investigators have been examining complaints that he raped women over several years. The women include restaurant workers and escorts, according to French media.
The Paris investigating chamber ruled after a hearing Tuesday that Mbodje should remain in pretrial detention, Le Parisien reported. The decision leaves him in custody nearly a year after he was jailed, the newspaper said.
Prosecutors argued that earlier court supervision was revoked after investigators suspected people close to Mbodje tried to pressure witnesses. Judges also cited concerns that he could leave France, pointing to his ties to Senegal and Switzerland and the severity of the accusations, according to Le Parisien and Senegalese outlet Seneweb.
Mbodje denies the allegations. He has portrayed the case as an attempt to extort him and has argued that he offers sufficient guarantees to appear in court. His lawyer said in 2022 that his client strongly denies the charges and expects the investigation to clarify what happened, according to reporting that cited Agence France-Presse.
The latest ruling is a setback for a businessman whose public profile has long mixed ambition and controversy. Wari grew quickly in the 2010s, competing in a crowded market of mobile money and cash transfer services. The company later faced financial strain and legal disputes in Senegal, including a conviction there related to misuse of corporate assets reported by regional media.
French proceedings have moved slowly, as is common in complex criminal investigations. A formal indictment in France, known as a mise en examen, allows investigators to continue gathering evidence under judicial oversight. It is not a determination of guilt.
Le Parisien said the alleged assaults span from 2017 to 2022. Details of the accusations have not been made public in court filings, and French authorities have not released a full account of the claims. In its report, Seneweb said prosecutors also raised suspicions that Mbodje or his associates tried to offer money to some complainants to withdraw their complaints, an allegation he disputes.
Pretrial detention in France can be ordered when judges believe a suspect might flee, reoffend, interfere with witnesses or destroy evidence. Defense lawyers often argue that strict supervision, travel bans and reporting requirements can address those risks.
The case has drawn attention in Senegal and among members of the diaspora who followed Mbodje’s rise in the fintech boom. His business reputation once burnished by growth has dimmed sharply. Some supporters have described him as a target, while others have urged caution as the investigation continues.
