Mali's Former Intelligence Chief Sentenced to 15 Years for Conspiracy

Kathmandu. Mali's court on Friday sentenced Mali's former intelligence chief to 15 years in prison on charges of 'conspiracy against the government'. He had accused the ruling junta leadership of encouraging corruption during the 10-day trial. The country's former intelligence chief Colonel Kasum Goita was prosecuted on charges of destabilizing state institutions and attempting a coup. He has been convicted of criminal conspiracy and conspiracy against the government. During the trial, Goita denied the charges and openly accused the ruling officials of misusing state funds and torturing him. Goita is one of the army officers involved in the military coup that overthrew elected President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in August 2020. The coup was led by Colonel Assimi Goita. Although both share the same surname, they have no familial relationship. Following diplomatic pressure, the army handed over power to a civilian-led interim government, which was responsible for returning Mali to civilian rule. Kasum Goita became the country's internal intelligence chief during the interim government. In 2021, Assimi Goita staged a second coup, removing the leaders of the interim government and declaring himself interim president, after which Kasum Goita was removed from his post. The Attorney General had sought a 20-year prison sentence for Goita and five other defendants. Although all six convicted in the case denied the charges, they have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from 7 to 15 years. "We are not surprised by this verdict. We will use all domestic legal options and then plan to go to other bodies," one of Goita's lawyers told AFP.