Senegal’s justice minister has mentioned that the conviction of firebrand political opponent Ousmane Sonko in an ethical corruption scandal is “remaining”, leaving him ineligible for the 2024 presidential election.
Sonko, a thorn within the aspect of President Macky Sall, has confronted a string of authorized woes since 2021 that he claims are aimed toward protecting him out of politics.
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Sonko was discovered responsible of corruption in June
He was discovered responsible on June 1 of morally corrupting a younger girl and sentenced in absentia to 2 years in jail, sparking clashes that left not less than 16 useless.
In July, he was arrested on separate prices, together with fomenting riot, prison affiliation in reference to a terrorist enterprise and undermining state safety over incidents courting again to 2021.
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Sonko’s legal professionals argue that his arrest on the brand new allegations cancelled out his conviction within the ethical corruption case as a result of he had been tried in absentia.
In response to Senegal’s penal code, if defendants who’re tried in absentia are arrested inside a sure limitation interval, any conviction is robotically annulled except they expressly conform to the sentence inside ten days.
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In an interview printed on-line Wednesday by the journal Jeune Afrique, Justice Minister Ismaila Madior Fall mentioned Sonko was arrested final month “within the context of one other case” and that the rule didn’t apply.
Why didn’t he flip himself in if he wished his conviction in absentia to be quashed?” he mentioned. “In the meantime, this has develop into remaining.”
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Senegal’s Sonko was blocked in his residence by safety forces
Sonko was blocked in his residence by safety forces on the time of the sentencing however was not jailed following the handing down of the jail time period. “There isn’t any cabal supposed to oust a presidential candidate”, Fall added within the interview.
Sonko went on a starvation strike on July 30 and was hospitalised on August 6. Authorities have dissolved his political celebration and arrested a whole bunch of his supporters and celebration members, prompting criticism from human rights defenders.
The minister mentioned that round 500 individuals had been detained in reference to this yr’s unrest. “Those that are behind bars have broken retailers or banks, attacked gendarmerie brigades, and even set fireplace to city halls,” he mentioned. “There aren’t any political prisoners in Senegal.”
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© Agence France-Presse
