Arrested Monday evening, Étienne Fabaka Sissoko was presented on Wednesday March 27 to the prosecutor of the Anti-Cybercrime Judicial Unit. He is notably accused of “damaging the credit of the State”. His defense denounces yet another political trial.
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“ Damage to state credit “, ” insults “, ” false statements and news falsely attributed to third parties, made in bad faith and likely to disturb public peace “. The charges against Étienne Fakaba Sissoko are linked to the book he published last December, four months ago: “ Propaganda, agitation, harassment: government communication during the Transition Mali. » According to his lawyer, the passages in particular in question where the Malian economist points out the action of “videomen”, these activists in the pay of those in power and who, in the eyes of the author, discredit public speech.
Asked by RFI, the prosecutor of the anti-cybercrime judicial center did not wish to specify or comment. But for Maître Ibrahim Marouf Sacko, this is a new political trial.
“He doesn’t blame himself for anything”
Étienne Fakaba Sissoko recently joined the Parena party. The day of his arrest, he published a message on social networks asking the Constitutional Court to play its democratic role, while the Transition period officially ended the day before yesterday, Tuesday March 26. “ We are in an unprecedented situation, believes his lawyer. Étienne Fakaba Sissoko is disturbing, so we want to silence him while waiting for the storm to pass. »
According to the lawyer, the offense of “ damage to state credit » would be regularly used, with bad legal effect, against voices that are too discordant.
Étienne Fakaba Sissoko had already spent six months in prison two years ago. He was released without any court decision being issued. At the time, he had indeed appeared before the judge but the conclusions had been postponed and the procedure had ultimately never come to an end. His new trial is scheduled to take place on May 6.
“ His morale is good, concludes Maître Ibrahim Marouf Sacko. He knows what’s happening to him, he doesn’t blame himself, he copes with dignity. »
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