The Dakar Criminal Court has postponed its verdict in the forged signature case involving former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, where Khardiata Tandian stands accused. Initially scheduled for July 9, 2026, the ruling has been deferred until July 23, 2026, due to the absence of Cherif Zeyni Abidin Sy, identified as the suspected accomplice.
During the hearing, the defense vigorously argued for Tandian’s provisional release, emphasizing her prolonged preventive detention of over a year, her family responsibilities as a married mother, and the potential for her incarceration time to already cover part of her possible sentence. The legal team also warned that further detention would severely destabilize her social standing.
The prosecution, however, strongly contested the request, asserting that releasing Tandian could threaten public order and that she did not provide sufficient assurances of appearing for trial. Despite the defense’s counterargument that no witness intimidation risk existed—given that the accused had already testified—the court sided with the prosecution’s objections. As a result, Khardiata Tandian remains in custody pending the case’s resolution.
