Defamation accused Hafi remains silent in Moroni court
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Masiwa Comores
Former Comorian minister Mahamoud Salim Hafi did not produce in Moroni court the bank statements he said he possessed to support corruption and money-laundering accusations against Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros officials. Charged with defamation, he said he stood by his accusations, Masiwa Comores reports.
Mahamoud Salim Hafi, a founding member of the Comorian party Convention for the Renewal of the Comoros (CRC), remained silent during his defamation hearing at the Moroni courthouse on Thursday 22 October, Masiwa Comores reports. He had accused party officials of corruption and money laundering between 2023 and 2025.
Hafi first appeared on 22 September. His lawyer then secured an adjournment to prepare his defence. At the 22 October hearing, the former minister said he stood by his accusations, but replied, “I have no answer” to almost all the questions from the civil party. He did not produce the bank statements he had claimed to possess during a broadcast on FCBK FM on 17 September.
The defamation complaints were filed by Youssouf Mohamed, known as Belou, the CRC’s national secretary, and Najda Saïd Abdallah, the party’s finance officer. Both were absent from the hearing. Hafi’s lawyer declined to comment on the trial when he left the court.
The hearing follows the placing under judicial supervision of former Comorian minister Salim Mohamed Hafi, reported on 1 October. Hafi was placed under judicial supervision after his public accusations targeting CRC officials.
