The appeal trial of relatives of Guillaume Soro continued on Friday February 10 at the Abidjan court. 11 people were tried for “conspiracy” and “attempt to undermine state security” during the aborted return of their leader to Côte d’Ivoire in December 2019. Among them is the former director of protocol of Guillaume Soro, Souleymane Koné Kamaraté, and his former security chief, Jean-Baptiste Kouamé. Minutes of this last hearing.
With our correspondent in Abidjan, Bineta Diagne
The defense lawyers succeeded, one by one, to plead one last time the cancellation of the charges against their clients. Since the start of the trial, some of them have denounced a political trial. ” At no time has it been demonstrated that the acts of attacks and conspiracy were characterized “, underlines Me Touré. Before concluding : ” All this is the result of arbitrariness, we ask for general acquittal. »
An exercise at times imbued with emotion, especially when Me Souleymane Diallo reads the message from the mother of Souleymane Koné Kamarate, nicknamed “Soul to Soul” : a letter in which the mother of Guillaume Soro’s former director of protocol denounces ” injustice “, According to her, which penalizes her son.
Decision expected on February 13
For the civil parties, there was indeed ” conspiracy “. They are based in particular on a sound recording in which we hear the voice of Guillaume Soro claim to be able to trigger a coup whenever he wishes.
” The strategy shown in the soundtrack was being executed “, underlines Me Abdoulaye Ben Meïté, who asks for the confirmation of the convictions pronounced in first instance, as well as a fine of up to 10 billion CFA francs, in particular to compensate for the loss of the weapons thrown into the water near Assinie.
The judges will render their decision on Monday 13 February in the afternoon.