In Mali, a twist in the trial of the purchase of the presidential plane and overpriced military equipment: the trial is suspended. Opened on September 24 as part of the special session of the Assize Court on economic and financial crimes, this trial concerns two complex cases of embezzlement of public funds dating back to 2014 and involving more than 130 billion FCFA. Nine defendants, including former ministers, soldiers and businessmen, are being prosecuted in particular for “corruption”, “attack on public property” or even “forgery and use of forgery”. On October 9, 2024, it was at the request of representatives of the Malian state that the court suspended the trial.
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Representatives of the State of Mali, cheated just like the Prosecutor’s Office considers that the file is not complete. After years of investigation, closed proceedings (in 2018) then relaunched (in 2020), and after around ten days of trial during which numerous witnesses took the stand, state litigation and the ministry public demand new hearings, in particular those of two former Prime Ministers. They also demand that missing documents be produced. The court therefore remanded the case for further investigation to the Supreme Court.
A delaying tactic?
How long will this take? Impossible to say. Defense lawyers believe that the public prosecutor has failed to prove its accusations and denounce a delaying tactic. They will file requests for provisional release pending the resumption of the trial.
Among the accused, businessmen and politicians who are outside Mali, soldiers – including a former member of the current National Transitional Council, who resigned to face Justice – and two former ministers, who insisted on being present to, according to their lawyers, prove their innocence. Mahamadou Camara, chief of staff of President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta (2013-2020) at the time of the events, paid bail last year to appear free. Bouaré Fily Sissoko, former Minister of the Economy, has been patient in prison for more than three years.
Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga imprisoned as part of this procedure
As a reminder, it was within the framework of this procedure that former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga was imprisoned, before dying in detention two and a half years ago. Despite his state of health and medical recommendations, the Malian transitional authorities opposed his medical evacuation.
All this information was obtained from direct judicial sources and from colleagues in the Malian press who have attended the hearings since the start of the procedure.
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