Lat Diop’s pool of lawyers took strong action for his release. According to information from Seneweb, on October 30, the councils submitted a request to the Financial Indictment Chamber for the cancellation of the procedure for violation of the custody deadlines. The defense is made up of Mes El Hadj Moustapha Diouf, Abdou Dialy Kane, Cheikh Ahmadou Ndiaye, Pape Sène and Alioune Badara Fall.
The former CEO of Lonase was indicted and placed under arrest warrant for acts of embezzlement of public funds, extortion of funds and money laundering, acts provided for and punished by articles 152 of the Penal Code and 7 of the 2018 law -03 relating to money laundering and terrorist financing.
The defense arguments
In their presentation of the facts, the lawyers explained that during their client’s hearing at the Criminal Investigation Division, he demonstrated good faith by providing an accurate account of the facts. Then, Lat Diop denied the incriminations as well at the time of his indictment.
Demonstrating the nullity of the procedure, the applicants explained that their client was placed in police custody on September 21, 2024 at 8:10 p.m. and that the 48-hour period expired on September 23, 2024 at 8:10 p.m. But an extension of this deadline was requested and obtained from the financial public prosecutor. This expired on September 25, 2024 at 8:10 p.m. Then, Lat Diop was not referred until the next day, September 26 at 1 p.m., more than 17 hours after the expiry of the said deadline.
The defense cited the terms of article 69 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which stipulates that at the end of the new period of 96 hours, the people thus detained must be immediately brought before the public prosecutor.
Auteur: Doudou DIOP – Seneweb.com
Senegal
