The court has ruled in favor of Ras Bath, the famed Malian radio host, and activist of the Collective for the Defense of the Republic, despite his being held in prison. Youssouf Bathily, his real name, had in March 2023 publicly declared that former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga had been “assassinated”, without specifying by whom.
On Tuesday, July 11th, the court of Commune IV of Bamako released Ras Bath after incarcerating him for almost four months. The justice declared him not guilty of the facts of “simulation of offense”. However, they still prosecuted him for “criminal association”, “damage to the credit of the State” and “racist and religious crime” due to his remarks on the “assassination” of former Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubeye Maïga during his detention.
For this second procedure, the investigation is still in progress, no date has been set for the trial. The reason why Ras Bath, under warrant, will sleep again in prison this evening. A source close to the prosecution of the Commune IV court in Bamako also specifies that the prosecution has appealed the decision rendered this morning.
Justice has Triumphed
For his part, Ras Bath’s lawyer, Master Kassoum Tapo, is delighted with this first victory, which he describes as a “triumph of justice”. I had always said that this case was a personal score-settling. Fortunately, the trial judge did not follow suit and ordered the release of Ras Bath. Justice simply triumphed. I am delighted for Ras Bath, and delighted for Mali”.
His lawyer will again ask for Ras Bath’s provisional release, stating that the second prosecution for the same facts “shows the instrumentalization and manipulation that the prosecutor has done”.
For the same facts, for having said that Boubeye was assassinated, he asks the judge to place Ras Bath, ndlr under warrant and to prosecute him for “criminal association”, “damage to credit of the State” and “crime of a racist and religious nature.”