The Dakar Correctional Court has once again postponed its final decision in the high-profile case involving Khardiata Tandian, accused of forging the signature of former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko. Originally scheduled for Thursday, July 9, 2026, the verdict has now been pushed back to July 23. 

The tribunal cited the absence of Cherif Zeyni Abidin Sy, identified as the alleged accomplice of the defendant, as the primary reason for this latest adjournment.

Furthermore, the court denied Khardiata Tandian’s application for provisional release. Her defense attorney argued that his client met all necessary criteria for such a measure. « She has been held in detention for over a year. The potential sentence could well be satisfied by her time already served in preventive custody. She is a married woman and a mother. Her social standing deteriorates further with each day she remains incarcerated », the lawyer pleaded.  

The public prosecutor vehemently opposed this request, asserting that granting Khardiata Tandian her freedom would disrupt public order. The prosecution also contended that the defendant lacked sufficient assurances of her future appearance in court.

In response, the defense maintained that there was no risk of witness intimidation or any disturbance to public order. They also highlighted that Khardiata Tandian had already provided her testimony in court, thereby making any distortion of the facts impossible.

Aligning with the public prosecutor’s recommendations, the tribunal ultimately rejected Khardiata Tandian’s plea for provisional release. Consequently, she will remain in custody pending the final deliberation, now scheduled for July 23, 2026.