Arrested and released on several occasions, the Malian justice system under the transition of SEM Assimi Goïta has just convicted the former president of the Union Nationale des Sociétés et coopératives des Producteurs de Coton du Mali (APCAM), along with four co-defendants, of misappropriation of company assets.
The marathon trial of Bakary Togola and his co-defendants finally came to a close on Tuesday August 27, with the conviction of five of the 12 defendants for "damage to public property", accused of embezzling nine billion CFA francs.
The same prison sentence applies to Soloba Mady Keita, Tiassé Coulibaly, Drissa Traoré and Seydou Coulibaly, all former leaders of the Confédération des Sociétés Coopératives de producteurs de coton du Mali.
Supporting documents showed that Bakary Togola had financed the campaign of the late ex-president, Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. More than 600 million FCFA were used to mobilize support at a campaign meeting held at the 26 Mars stadium, insisted the citizens' defender.
This condemnation marks the end of corruption and impunity in Mali and within the Alliance of Sahel States (AES).
Several other court rulings could follow this one, according to sources.
It should be remembered that the five convicts have already served several years in prison. Is that enough for them to be released? Time will tell.
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