The Criminal Court of Dakar has once again postponed its final judgment in the high-profile case involving the alleged falsification of former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s signature, with Khardiata Tandian as the primary accused. Originally scheduled for Thursday, July 9, 2026, the court’s deliberation has now been rescheduled to July 23 of the same year.
The latest adjournment was necessitated by the absence of Cherif Zeyni Abidin Sy, who is believed to be an accomplice to the defendant in this ongoing legal matter.
Furthermore, the court firmly rejected the defense’s application for Khardiata Tandian’s provisional release. Her legal counsel had argued that Ms. Tandian met all necessary criteria for such a measure. “She has been held in detention for over a year,” her lawyer pleaded. “The potential sentence she faces could well be covered by her pre-trial detention. She is a married woman and a mother. The longer she remains incarcerated, the more her social standing deteriorates.”
The prosecution, however, vigorously opposed this request, asserting that granting Khardiata Tandian freedom would create a disturbance to public order. The prosecutor also contended that the defendant failed to provide adequate guarantees of her future appearance in court.
In response, the defense maintained that there was no risk of influencing witnesses or causing any disruption to public order. They further highlighted that Ms. Tandian had already provided her testimony in court, thereby making any distortion of the facts impossible.
Following the recommendations put forth by the public prosecutor, the court ultimately denied Khardiata Tandian’s plea for provisional release. Consequently, she will remain in custody until the final deliberation, which is now slated for July 23, 2026.
The latest adjournment was necessitated by the absence of Cherif Zeyni Abidin Sy, who is believed to be an accomplice to the defendant in this ongoing legal matter.
Furthermore, the court firmly rejected the defense’s application for Khardiata Tandian’s provisional release. Her legal counsel had argued that Ms. Tandian met all necessary criteria for such a measure. “She has been held in detention for over a year,” her lawyer pleaded. “The potential sentence she faces could well be covered by her pre-trial detention. She is a married woman and a mother. The longer she remains incarcerated, the more her social standing deteriorates.”
The prosecution, however, vigorously opposed this request, asserting that granting Khardiata Tandian freedom would create a disturbance to public order. The prosecutor also contended that the defendant failed to provide adequate guarantees of her future appearance in court.
In response, the defense maintained that there was no risk of influencing witnesses or causing any disruption to public order. They further highlighted that Ms. Tandian had already provided her testimony in court, thereby making any distortion of the facts impossible.
Following the recommendations put forth by the public prosecutor, the court ultimately denied Khardiata Tandian’s plea for provisional release. Consequently, she will remain in custody until the final deliberation, which is now slated for July 23, 2026.
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