Ivory Coast minister accused of stealing compensation meant for victims of toxic waste spill

Ivory Coast minister investigated for corruption

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast — Ivory Coast’s president has called for a corruption investigation into a top minister.

President Laurent Gbagbo asked a state prosecutor on Sunday to investigate whether Interior Minister Desire Tagro has been skimming state funds. Gbagbo specifically mentioned payments made by Dutch oil-trading company Trafigura to victims of a 2006 toxic waste spill in Abidjan.

Gbagbo also suggested Tagro may have embezzled from a 100 million-euro ($123 million) government contract with French company Sagem to issue national identity cards.

Tagro, a member of Gbagbo’s FPI Party, was accused earlier this month by the president of the National Assembly of peddling influence to get members of his ethnic group into the prestigious National Police School.