Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko was sentenced Monday, May 8th on appeal to a suspended six-month prison sentence for defamation and public insult, in the case between him and Minister Mame Mbaye Niang. The Court of Appeal confirmed the amount of damages fixed at the first instance: 200 million CFA francs.
The verdict has been pronounced: Senegalese opponent Ousmane Sonko was sentenced on appeal to a six-month suspended prison sentence for defamation and public insult. In addition, he was also ordered to pay damages like the court at first instance, i.e. 200 million CFA francs (300,000 euros).
The trial was held in the absence of the principal concerned, the opponent Ousmane Sonko having announced on Sunday evening May 7th that he would not be present. “I will no longer appear before this justice to answer anything,” he said.
The political opponent and mayor of Ziguinchor had convened a session of the municipal council of his city in Casamance, in the south of the country, the same day and at the same time as his trial, reports our correspondent in Dakar, Théa Ollivier.