The Criminal Court in Dakar has postponed the verdict in the forgery case involving the signature of former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, linked to defendant Khardiata Tandian. Originally scheduled for July 9, 2026, the ruling was deferred due to the absence of Cherif Zeyni Abidin Sy, identified as the alleged accomplice in the case.
In a separate decision, the court denied Khardiata Tandian’s request for provisional release. Her legal team argued that she met all conditions for bail, emphasizing her prolonged pre-trial detention of over a year, her married status, and her role as a mother to a young child. They also stressed that the time already served could potentially cover the expected sentence, warning that further incarceration would severely disrupt her social and family life.
The prosecution firmly contested the bail request, asserting that Khardiata Tandian’s release would pose a risk to public order and that she lacked sufficient guarantees to ensure her appearance in court. While the defense maintained that there was no risk of witness intimidation—given that the defendant had already testified—the tribunal sided with the prosecution’s concerns. As a result, Khardiata Tandian remains in custody pending the final resolution of the case.
