By John Ikani
Two senior Djiboutian ministry officials have been arrested for questioning over allegations of embezzling public funds.
The arrests follow an audit by the state inspectorate-general that unearthed massive theft of state funds, state television reported.
Investigations had shown the existence of fraudulent agreements between some traders and officials at the budget ministry to embezzle money, RTD Djibouti said.
Two officials – Farah Mohamed Osman, deputy director of materials, and Sahal Said Awaleh, head of the ministry’s treasury directorate – were being held over “unjustified significant budget overruns”.
The officials have not commented on the allegations.
The national broadcaster added that their detention “was followed by the arrest of several local traders and other people”.
