French national arrested in Senegal for 1.7 million euro embezzlement

Emmanuel Jacques Marcel Roger, a 49-year-old French national, has been arrested in Senegal for embezzling approximately 1.7 million euros from the French timber trading company SAMB.

According to investigators, Roger used his position as an accountant to access company bank accounts and modify supplier payment details. By replacing legitimate banking information with his own, he diverted funds to his personal accounts. He reportedly fled to Senegal in April 2026, settling in the Saly area and posing as a humanitarian worker in the village of Sandiara to avoid detection.

During questioning by the Division des investigations criminelles (DIC), Roger admitted to the facts. He stated that his lifestyle expenses exceeded his salary, leading him to systematically misappropriate company funds to finance his personal needs. He now faces charges including breach of trust, money laundering, and forgery.