Burkina / Justice: Lieutenant-Colonel Emmanuel Zoungrana appears before the military tribunal this October 12

The control room of the military court had confirmed the order of refusal of provisional release of the investigating judge, concerning Lieutenant-Colonel Emmanuel Zoungrana. 

The court mentioned several reasons including the nature of the offence, the personal safety of Lieutenant-Colonel Zoungrana and the risk of witness tampering. 

This was unacceptable for his lawyers who seized the Court of Cassation, the highest court in the country to rule on this request for provisional release not granted. 

The cassation trial opened on September 22, 2022, before being adjourned to October 27, 2022 to deliberate.

Prosecuted on five counts including undermining state security and money laundering, Emmanuel Zoungrana was released on bail on February 2, 2022 for the offenses of undermining the security of the State but not for the acts of money laundering.

However, the military tribunal is holding a public hearing on October 12, to rule on the release of the lieutenant-colonel, imprisoned since January 2022.     

    Yaovi AGBEGNIGAN