Senegal: Ousmane Sonko confident after his first hearing for rape
Senegalese political opponent Ousmane Sonko, in January 2019 in Dakar.
SEYLLOU / AFP
Text by: RFI Follow
1 min
The Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko, targeted since last year by a complaint for repeated rapes, was received this Thursday, November 3 by the dean of the judges.
The mayor of Ziguinchor, who has always denounced a "
political plot
", was heard for the first time on the merits of the case.
He hopes for a dismissal.
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Charlotte Idrac
Ousmane Sonko arrived at the court discreetly, without going through the main entrance.
Armored vehicles were deployed, such as around the opponent's home in the Keur Gorgui city district and other strategic points in the capital.
Barriers, filtered access… Only journalists who came en masse were allowed to approach the courthouse, without being able to enter.
After a three-hour hearing
with the dean of the investigating judges
, the opponent's lawyers said they were confident.
“
He answered all the questions that were asked by the senior judge.
He disputed the facts
and he dismantled the accusation.
He provided all the evidence of his innocence.
(...) It went very well.
We expect a total dismissal of these non-existent facts
, ”said Me Bamba Cissé.
“
My audition went very well
,” wrote Ousmane Sonko on Twitter.
My audition ended and went very very well.
However, the gendarmerie of Macky Sall and Moussa Fall waited until I was in the office of the Dean of the judges with my lawyers to kidnap all the elements of my security… pic.twitter.com/tSgMyPo2Yj
— Ousmane Sonko (@SonkoOfficiel) November 3, 2022
And now, what will be next?
For the time being, “
another summons has not been served to him
”, affirms Me Joseph Etienne Dione, also a member of the collective of lawyers for Ousmane Sonko.
While overflows were feared as in March 2021, the opponent had called on his supporters to stay at home on Thursday, to "
go about their business
".
The message got through.
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