Malian authorities have arrested a herbalist, Mr Sinayogo, for allegedly defrauding supporters who believed he could secure victory for Mali in the Africa Cup of Nations.
The arrest came after Mali was eliminated from the tournament following a 1-0 loss to Senegal in the quarter-finals on Friday. Sinayogo reportedly collected 33,500 euros (over 22 million CFA francs) in donations before the defeat.
An official from Mali’s cybercrime division told AFP, “Charlatanism is punishable by law in Mali.” He added that intervening while the tournament was ongoing would have been challenging “in the heat of the Africa Cup of Nations.”
ALSO READ: Tottenham agree £34m deal for Atletico Madrid’s Conor Gallagher
Following the loss, an angry crowd reportedly gathered at Sinayogo’s residence in Bamako, prompting police to step in and take him into custody. He is now being held at the cybercrime division for investigation.
A social media content creator familiar with Sinayogo said the man, previously known as a political activist, “proclaimed himself a marabout overnight and made a fortune.”