Senegal court delays ruling in Ousmane Sonko signature case

The Correctional Court in Dakar has postponed the verdict in the case involving the alleged falsification of former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko’s signature, linked to defendant Khardiata Tandian. Originally scheduled for July 9, 2026, the ruling has been deferred until July 23, 2026, following the absence of Cherif Zeyni Abidin Sy, identified as the alleged accomplice in the matter.

Detention upheld despite defense arguments

The presiding judge rejected Khardiata Tandian’s request for provisional release, despite her legal team’s arguments that she met all eligibility criteria. Her lawyers emphasized that she has been held in pre-trial detention for over a year, is married, and has a young child. They also pointed out that any potential sentence could be partially served by the time already spent in custody, warning that further detention would severely disrupt her family and social standing.

The prosecution, however, strongly contested the release, asserting that Khardiata Tandian’s freedom would pose a risk to public order and that she could not be relied upon to appear in court as required. Although her defense countered that no witness tampering risks existed since she had already testified in open court, the court ultimately sided with the prosecution’s stance. As a result, Khardiata Tandian remains in custody pending the final resolution of the case.