Jailed son of former Senegal President released through the Presidential Pardon
Former Senegalese President Adboulaye Wade’s son Karim Wade was released from prison in Dakar after a Presidential pardon.
Wade has been in prison for over three years of his six year imprisonment sentence following a series of judicial investigations against the former President’s relatives accused of getting rich illegally. The anti-corruption campaign was launched by President Macky Sall after coming into power on 2012. Wade was arrested with seven of his relatives and friends in a conviction by the Court for illegal enrichment.
Senegal’s President Macky Sall announced the release of Wade in June, assuring the media that he will no longer be incarcerated before the month of Ramadan ends.
Wade’s release has been met with mixed reactions by the Senegal political class. But huge crowds welcomed him home after his release late Thursday according to Presse Afrik.
The Presidential pardon covers the convicts’ sentence, but the financial sanctions and the procedure for recovery of misappropriated funds remain in force.
“The President of the Republic, by Decree No 2016-880 of 24 June 2016, pardoned gentlemen Karim Meissa Wade Ibrahima Aboukhalil said Bibo Bourgi and Alioune Samba Diasse . It should be clarified that this exemption only sentenced to undergo imprisonment remaining. Thus, the financial sanctions contained in the judgment of 23 March 2015 and the recovery procedure initiated remain.” Said the Statement from the Presidency