Chad: a man on trial for selling the same plot to multiple buyers

On Monday 8 June 2026, the high court in N’Djamena held a hearing that lasted more than four hours. A man is being prosecuted for allegedly selling a single piece of land to multiple buyers for sums totalling several million francs CFA. He also faces charges of making death threats.

According to the case file, the accused received payments ranging from 52 million to 99.5 million francs CFA from several individuals, each believing they had purchased the same plot.

During the hearing, heated exchanges occurred between the defendant’s legal team and the lawyers representing the civil parties. The civil parties are demanding full reimbursement of the amounts paid by their clients, as well as compensation for damages.

The defence argued that their client was held in custody by the intelligence services for more than three months before being brought before a judge, a period they say is illegal. They maintain that the land rightfully belongs to their client, who acts as the representative of his brothers, and that there is no dispute over ownership. They further alleged that the defendant’s paternal uncle manipulated certain family members into claiming the property of his deceased brother, which led the buyers to come forward and demand their money back.

The civil parties’ lawyers described the defendant’s actions as fraud. The defence rejected this, asserting that no property had been obtained fraudulently and that articles 213 and 214 of Chad’s penal code do not apply in this case. The prosecutor requested a conviction on all charges, emphasising that collecting such large sums from multiple people constitutes an offence, and asked for a fine of 500,000 francs CFA.

Both sides are pressing the judges for a favourable ruling. Notably, a similar hearing in the same case took place on 1 June. The court has adjourned to deliberate. Meanwhile, the accused remains in custody at Klessoum prison.