No provisional release for Etienne Fakaba Sissoko. The Malian economist is on appeal for “damaging the state’s credit”. He was sentenced last May to two years in prison, one year of which was suspended, and to pay damages to the State of 3 million CFA francs. At issue: a book in which he denounces the “propaganda” of the transitional government. After seven months of detention, the Court of Appeal authorized, this Monday, October 14, Etienne Fakaba Sissoko to return home, under judicial supervision, while awaiting the hearing on the merits, but the general prosecutor’s office immediately opposed this. .
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The feeling of victory, even partial, only lasted a few minutes. Time for Etienne Fakaba Sissoko’s lawyer to learn of the appeal from the general prosecutor’s office, when the court of appeal had just ordered his release, under judicial supervision, pending his new trial. This appeal is suspensive. The economist therefore remains in prison.
“ It arouses in me a feeling of despair, of regret », confides, disillusioned, Maître Ibrahim Marouf Sacko who wonders about “ the relentlessness » of which, according to him, his client is the victim, who has already spent almost seven months in detention and continues to proclaim his innocence.
The general public prosecutor’s office less sensitive than independent magistrates
“ This appeal is a right of the general prosecutor’s office, but given the context, the debates and all the arguments that we have developed, I thought that the prosecutor should have been as sensitive as the court which has just ordered the freedom », deplores the lawyer who recalls that “ freedom is the principle and Etienne Fakaba Sissoko is presumed innocent! When judges, independent magistrates, decide that he should be at liberty, the General Prosecutor’s Office must adopt an attitude of clemency, if only for the respect of this fundamental right which is the presumption of innocence . That wasn’t enough. There is relentlessness and more relentlessness against my client, but we will face. »
The hearing on the merits of this appeal trial has been set for November 11. “ All we have left now is to fight for release. », concludes Master Sacko.
“The opposite would have surprised us”
For the defense, the book in which the academic denounces the “ propaganda » of the transitional government is an academic and sourced work which has not caused any disturbance to public order since its publication.
“ It is the opposite that would have surprised us “, explains a close friend of the economist who believes that the public prosecutor’s appeal once again demonstrates the character ” purely political » of the procedure, intended to intimidate overly critical voices. “ But this is the march of the fight and we will continue to fight for the trial », adds this source.
Also readMali: economist Etienne Fakaba Sissoko is still awaiting his appeal trial