Senegal court delays verdict in forged signature case involving Ousmane Sonko

The Correctional Court in Dakar has postponed the ruling in the forged signature case tied to former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, involving Khardiata Tandian, until July 23, 2026. Initially scheduled for July 9, 2026, the hearing was adjourned after Cherif Zeyni Abidin Sy, alleged to be her accomplice, failed to appear before the bench.

The court also rejected Khardiata Tandian’s request for provisional release during this adjournment. Her legal team argued that their client met all criteria for such a measure, emphasizing her prolonged pre-trial detention of over a year, her marital status, and her role as a mother to a young child. They further contended that the time already served could effectively cover any potential sentence, warning that further incarceration would severely destabilize her personal and social life.

The prosecution strongly contested these arguments, asserting that granting her release would pose a risk to public order and that she did not provide sufficient assurances of returning for trial. Despite the defense’s counterclaim that there was no risk of witness tampering since Khardiata Tandian had already testified in court, the tribunal sided with the prosecution’s stance. As a result, Khardiata Tandian remains in custody pending the next hearing.