Africa report
Guinea: the systematic use of preventive detention called into question
Audio 02:20
In Guinea, the majority of people imprisoned in the country are awaiting trial.
(Illustrative image) © Getty Images/Contributor
By: Matthias Raynal Follow
2 mins
In Guinea, a case revives the debate on the abusive use of preventive detention.
On March 14, Alhassane Bangoura died at the central house in Conakry where he had been imprisoned two weeks earlier for an alleged theft of a television.
The death of this father without history arouses incomprehension.
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From our correspondent in Conakry,
When his death was announced, the entire Yattaya district, in the suburbs of Conakry, demonstrated and let their anger explode.
“
His death is unfair, we can say that!
», proclaims Master Sékou Maouloud Koïta.
This is not a case like the others for him.
He was Alhassane Bangoura's lawyer.
He was also his employer.
He recounts the day his guard was arrested.
“
The BAC
(Anti-Crime Squad, editor’s note)
came with the girl and designated him.
He was stopped.
All she had to do was point to him and say “
it's him
”.
»
► To read also: Guinea: controversy after the death of a political opponent in prison in Conakry
15 days of detention before dying
Identified by a witness, Alhassane Bangoura is placed in detention pending trial for the theft of a television and laptop.
He will spend 15 days in prison.
In the autopsy report, it is written: "
The death was the result of massive pulmonary edema, starvation by lack of food compatible with the poor conditions of detention
", reads his lawyer.
► To read also: Guinea: Amnesty International calls for an investigation into the death of 4 people in prison
His client should never have ended up in prison, explains Maître Sékou Maouloud Koïta.
“
When, and the law says so, when you have a lawyer, when you have your domicile identified, you have a family, you have children, you don't have to run away.
We do not put in pre-trial or preventive detention.
In this case, it's irrelevant.
»
Alhassane Bangoura's family now wants his honor to be cleared, to obtain a dismissal in the burglary case.
She also wants those responsible for her death to be brought to justice.
70% of detainees in the Conakry central prison in preventive detention
Inhuman conditions of detention.
The central house in Conakry has seen almost no development since its inauguration in the 1930s. It is 500% occupied.
However, justice continues to lock up there with a vengeance.
For Adrien Tossa, program director of the NGO The same rights for all: “
The principle is freedom and detention, the exception.
But it is the opposite that is rather commonly practiced here.
The Guinean judge systematically resorts to preventive detention
.
»
According to the NGO, in February, more than 70% of the detainees of the central house of Conakry were in preventive detention.
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Guinea
Justice