Time will stand still for the five ministers under indictment, who will be questioned starting Monday by the High Court of Justice’s Investigative Commission, which has now entered its active phase. Once this stage is over, the cases of four other ministries cited in the Court of Auditors’ report on the management of the Covid-19 Fund will be activated. A spectacular summer is in store for the dignitaries of the former regime.

The time for justice for the former ministers of the Sall regime has arrived. Following the indictment of five former ministers, the High Court of Justice is entering its investigation phase, with the notification of summonses to appear in court and the issuance of conduct orders. Between Monday and May 26, all those involved will be heard a priori by the High Court of Justice’s Investigative Commission. Charged or not? Under arrest warrant or on bail, like most of the Directors of General Administration and Equipment (DAGE) or suppliers or beneficiaries of public funds during this period? Wait and see !

HCJ – Prosecution of former ministers: Bail for Liberty

Former ministers Mansour Faye, Sophie Gladima, Ndèye Saly Diop, Moustapha Diop, and Ismaïla Madior Fall will open the proceedings, which are likely to last for quite some time. Other cases related to the Covid-19 Fund are currently being examined by the Dakar Public Prosecutor’s Office, which is relieving the financial prosecution service, which is overloaded with cases worth billions of CFA francs.

Four other ministers pending

For now, there are still four ministries whose cases are in the judicial system. Aside from Ismaïla Madior Fall, whose prosecution is for an alleged corruption case unrelated to Covid, only the ministers of Family, Industry, Community Development, and Mines, whose officials enjoy jurisdictional privileges, are being prosecuted.  The cases of the Ministries of Youth, Sports, Health, Culture, and Communication, for which the Dage had to vouch to avoid imprisonment, are in a waiting period, which will not be long. This wait is linked to a strategy « to avoid » overloading the Investigation Commission and the High Court of Justice, which is a special jurisdiction.

By Bocar SAKHO / bsakho@lequotidien.sn

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH