Mali ex-intelligence chief sentenced to prison for plotting coup

News Mali ex-intelligence chief sentenced to prison for plotting coup In this Tuesday, April 3, 2012 file photo, soldiers stand guard at junta headquarters in Kati, outskirt Bamako, Mali   -   Copyright © africanews Copyright 2012 AP. All rights reserved. By Africanews with AFP Last updated: 24/07 - 18:28 Mali A court sentenced Mali's former head of domestic intelligence Friday to 15 years in prison for "conspiracy against the government", following a ten-day trial in which he openly accused the ruling junta of corruption. Colonel Kassoum Goita, the country's ex-head of internal security, was charged on suspicion of attempting a coup and destabilizing state institutions. He was found guilty of criminal conspiracy and conspiracy against the government. During the trial, Goita denied the charges and openly accused the ruling authorities of embezzling funds and subjecting him to torture. Goita is one of the army officers who overthrew elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in an August 2020 military putsch, led by Colonel Assimi Goita. The two men are not related despite sharing the same family name. Under diplomatic pressure, the army subsequently handed power to a civilian-led interim government tasked with steering Mali back towards civilian rule. Kassoum Goita became the head domestic intelligence under this government. However he was dismissed after Assimi Goita overthrew the leaders of the interim government in 2021, in a second putsch, and was declared interim president himself. The prosecutor had sought a 20-year prison sentence for Goita and five other defendants. All six of those prosecuted in the trial denied the charges against them and received sentences ranging from seven to 15 years in prison. "We are not surprised by the verdict. We intend to exhaust all domestic legal avenues before turning to other bodies", a defence lawyer told AFP. You may also like 01:27 Haiti mourns victims of Kenscoff gang attack as fear grips community 16 minutes ago 01:14 Spain PM Pedro Sanchez rules out Moroccan role in Ceuta migrant surge 1 hour ago 01:10 Algeria moves to restore death penalty for deliberate forest fires 1 hour ago Share More About Mali Colonel Assimi Goita Alliance of Sahel States You may also like 01:27 Haiti mourns victims of Kenscoff gang attack as fear grips community 16 minutes ago 01:14 Spain PM Pedro Sanchez rules out Moroccan role in Ceuta migrant surge 1 hour ago 01:10 Algeria moves to restore death penalty for deliberate forest fires 1 hour ago On the same subject NEWS 01:10 HRW says Russian paramilitaries killed 9 civilians in Mali 20/08 - 16:08 BUSINESS AFRICA 11:19 DRC: Will the copper export ban finally deliver mineral sovereignty? {Business Africa} 21/08 - 14:06 NEWS 01:00 Mali jails government critic for 'discrediting state' 17/08 - 18:39 NEWS 00:56 UN says $50 million ransom fueled Al-Qaeda offensive in Mali 15/08 - 11:10 NEWS 01:01 Mali frees 82 soldiers held by militants, pardons French embassy official 13/08 - 19:12 BUSINESS AFRICA 11:20 West Africa: gold rush reshapes the mining market [Business Africa] 13/08 - 16:21 More stories 01:25 General Abdourahamane Tchiani Calm returns to Niger's capital one day after failed army mutiny 8 hours ago 01:02 Coup Vote counting underway in Guinea-Bissau referendum that could expand presidential powers 7 hours ago 00:56 United Kingdom Notting Hill Carnival kicks off in a burst of colour and Caribbean tradition 3 hours ago