Benin – Forgery of tax clearance certificates: a member of the Les Démocrates party sent to prison
One of the two people arrested in connection with a case of forged proxies intended to obtain tax clearance certificates was placed in custody on Friday, November 7, 2025. Presented to the special prosecutor of the CRIET, the suspect is being prosecuted for forgery, use of forged documents and electoral fraud.
Criet Bénin
The case of forged proxies is shaking the electoral process again a few weeks before the 2026 municipal elections. On Friday, November 7, 2025, one of the two suspects arrested was taken to prison after being presented to the special prosecutor at the Court for the Repression of Economic Offenses and Terrorism (CRIET).
He is accused of having taken part in producing and using falsified documents to obtain tax clearance certificates, a document required for any candidacy.
Les Démocrates disassociate themselves from the alleged acts
According to a statement released by the Special Prosecutor’s Office, the two individuals are accused of using false proxies to collect duplicates of tax clearance certificates and criminal record extracts. These acts, described as electoral fraud, were reported by the Directorate General of Taxes, which referred the matter to the justice system on November 6, 2025.
Speaking to BIP Radio, the spokesperson for the party Les Démocrates confirmed that the two people arrested are indeed members of the political movement. However, he stressed that the party “does not condone these practices” and that it is up to the justice system to determine individual responsibilities.
This case comes as political parties are working to regularize their candidacy files with the Independent National Electoral Commission (CENA).