In September 2025, pawaTech lodged a complaint with Côte d’Ivoire’s Pôle Pénal Économique et Financier (PPEF) against Daci Speed SARL and its shareholders, Ms. Ange-Eléonore BOUGOUSSOU Djekould and Mr. Edie YEPIE Jacky Fernandel Pascal, for breach of trust, fraud, forgery and use of forged documents, and criminal conspiracy. The investigation has since expanded to include Mr. Yann Lossane DIOMANDE and Mr. Ntoudi MOUYELO, former Chief Commercial Officer of pawaTech.

The fraud of US$3.6 million (approximately 2,062,643,743 CFA francs) began in early 2024 when Daci Speed, a prospective local operator managed by Ms. BOUGOUSSOU Djekould, received a wire transfer of US$585,000 (approximately 327,453,632 CFA francs) for the acquisition of a gaming licence and thereafter claimed, in conjunction with Mr. Ntoudi MOUYELO, that an additional amount was required as an upfront payment for a combined sports betting and online casino licence from the National Lottery of Côte d’Ivoire (LONACI).

pawaTech advanced the funds based on documentation provided by Daci Speed, including a letter purportedly from LONACI stating a licence fee of 1,900,000,000 CFA francs (approximately US$3.1 million). Direct contact from pawaTech’s compliance team with LONACI later revealed that the letter was forged, no payment had been received by LONACI, and the actual licence fee ought to have only been 500 million CFA francs.

LONACI has reserved the right to pursue legal action for forgery.

“pawaTech has always prioritised the service provider model whereby the betPawa brand is operated in country by licensed business operators. Situations like this question this strategy where some local operators blatantly take advantage of the services we provide” said Kresten Buch, Chairman.

He continued: “It is not the first time we have experienced this as a company, but what makes this case worse is that one of our senior-ranking staff appears to have colluded to defraud the company.”

pawaTech remains committed to the responsible and compliant development of the online gaming and sports betting sector in Africa. In light of the ongoing investigations, the company advises all parties to exercise caution in any financial or business dealings involving Ms. Ange-Eléonore BOUGOUSSOU Djekould, Mr. Edie YEPIE Jacky Fernandel Pascal, Mr. Yann Lossane DIOMANDE or Mr. Ntoudi MOUYELO, and to conduct thorough due diligence pending the outcome of judicial processes. 

The case was submitted to Côte d’Ivoire’s Pôle Pénal Économique et Financier (PPEF) in October 2025.  We look forward to the conclusion of this investigation, until then the company has no further comments on this ongoing investigation.