After his release yesterday from police custody relating to the denial of the « falsified budgetary and economic data » reported by the Prime Minister, Bougane Guèye Dany said he maintained his statements before investigators. He returned to the course of his hearing, before being critical of the regime which, according to him, will face a united opposition through an inter-coalition to prevent it from having the majority in the National Assembly during the legislative elections of November 17.

Summoned to the Special Cybersecurity Division for, he said, “defamation, public insults” against Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, Bougane Guèye Dany said he maintained his statements. “I maintained my statements by dismantling Ousmane Sonko’s statements, I take responsibility for it,” declared Bougane Guèye Dany, a few hours after his release yesterday. It was during a press conference that he hosted in the presence of Abdou Mbow of the Apr, Pape Djibril Fall of the “Sam sa kaddu” Coalition.

Moody’s downgrades Senegal’s rating: Diba seeks the right tempo

The boss of Dmedia claimed that during his hearing, he was told this: « You said that the PM is not telling the truth? Can you prove it? » « I responded by saying that this is not reflected in his words, » says Bougane Gu-ye Dany. « I want to know who filed a complaint? », he asked. « No one filed a complaint against you » the investigators’ responsed to Bougane Guèye, according to him. Before he asked to know « if the prosecutor took charge of the matter. »

« We want to know why you are disrespecting the PM? », he was asked, informed the leader of Gueum sa bopp. « I am not addressing the PM, I am addressing the president of the Pastef party. He accused President Macky of… », retorts Bougane. « We made comments without defamation or public insult. I signed the hearing report, » specified the boss of Dmedia to deny the information broadcast yesterday, saying that he had not signed the report. « I was left there from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. before they came to notify me of my police custody, » he informed. « I told them that I was ready since, » he argued.

Read the column – Pastef’s only project is the lowering of Senegal

He emphasized his surprise at his notification of his police custody for “spreading false news.” “You are placing me in police custody for spreading false news without being heard,” he told the sleuths, before being taken to the police station to spend a night there.

The next day, “we cannot arrest you,” he was told, according to him, before being released. The case was also closed without further action. As a reminder, Bougane Guèye Dany was placed in police custody for the offense of spreading false news. Bougane Guèye Dany said he responded to Justice for the “respect” he has for this institution which, according to him, “is the first bulwark to fight injustice.”

A vitriolic Bougane Guèye Dany stated. « It is a regime that is ending. This regime has not been here for long, but the beginnings of the end of this regime are clearly visible, » Adding that PM Ousmane Sonko knows that he, Bougane, does not lack courage.

Noting the « incompetence » of the regime in place which is causing the Senegalese to be in a « hard » situation, Bougane Guèye Dany believes that the latter have the possibility of rectifying the situation by granting the majority of the Assembly to the opposition. An opposition united in an inter-coalition to « block the road » to the regime in place, which he says, « betrayed the hopes » of the Senegalese people. Praising the professionalism of the police who treated him well, Bougane Guèye Dany thanked the political actors, the civil society, the religious leaders for having given him their support.
By Amadou MBODJI / ambodji@lequotidien.sn 

  • Translation by Ndey T. SOSSEH