In Mali, economist Etienne Fakaba Sissoko was tried on May 6, 2024 for “ damage to state credit “, ” insults ” And ” false statements and news (…) likely to disturb public peace “. In question, a book published last December in which he denounced the communication propaganda of the Malian transitional government. Recently joined an opposition party, Parena, Etienne Fakaba Sissoko has been in prison since his arrest on March 25. This Monday morning, his lawyer pleaded for pure and simple release.
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“ No evidence has been provided of any violation of the law “, ” the falsity of the information has not been demonstrated », Estimates Master Ibrahim Marouf Sacko.
According to him, the incriminated passages in Etienne Fakaba Sissoko’s book only quote official press releases, report the words of opponents or express facts of public knowledge, such as the use by government authorities of “videomen”: ” Some activists are officially recruited by the Prime Ministerexplains the lawyer again. We proved it and everyone knows it! »
Read alsoMali: economist Étienne F. Sissoko will be tried for a book denouncing the “propaganda” of the authorities
During the hearing, the prosecutor of the anti-cybercrime center would have criticized the tone used in the book, borrowing from “ sarcasm ” and of ” derision “. Outrage of Etienne Fakaba Sissoko’s lawyer: “ Tone is not grounds for incarceration! » And to say that, during the preliminary investigation, the police questioned the economist on what he thought of the management of the country and the record of Prime Minister Choguel Maïga. “ Would we criticize him for his opinions? », asks the lawyer again.
Finally on the form, Maitre Sacko underlined that the facts alleged against his client were in theory subject to press law and in no case to cybercrime, while it is before the specialized cybercrime center that Etienne fakaba Sissoko appears , which would not, according to the lawyer, fall within his field of competence.
Requested by RFI, the prosecutor of the anti-cybercrime judicial center did not respond. Maître Sacko therefore requests pure and simple release for Etienne Fakaba Sissoko, basing all his hopes in the person of the judge for “ put an end to the persecution » of which he considers his client a victim. The deliberation has been set for May 20. Until then, no provisional release: Etienne Fakaba Sissoko will continue to wait in prison.