The High Court of Ouagadougou 1 (TGI Ouaga 1) rendered its decision this Friday in the trial of the appeal to burn down the palace of Mogho Naaba, condemning the main mastermind of the case, Marcel Tankoano to 48 months in prison and 5 million CFA francs, all closed.
Marcel Tankoano, head of a civil society organization (CSO) who also presented himself, at the start of the trial, as a "political entrepreneur", was found guilty of endangering others and inciting the disclosure of false information.
Two other defendants, Abdoul Karim Baguian alias Lota and Pascal Zaïda, also CSO officials, were each sentenced to 30 months in prison and 2 million CFA francs firm.
Meanwhile, Boukaré Tapsoba, politician, takes 24 months in prison and 2 million F CFA firm, while Désiré Guinko, from civil society is sentenced to 18 months in prison and 1 million F CFA, all firm.
For his part, Karim Koné was given a 12-month prison sentence and a one million fine, while Souleymane Belem, the only defendant who appeared free, got off with a 6-month suspended sentence.
As for journalists Lookman Sawadogo and Traoré Alain alias Alain Alain, they were dismissed for prosecution and benefit of the doubt. Same fate for Boukaré Conombo, an activist, released with the benefit of the doubt.
In early May 2023, audio recordings had circulated on social networks, calling for the burning of the Moogho Naaba Baongho palace, while other audios called on the populations to oppose the burning of the same palace.
The prosecutor of Faso had accused these ten people of incitement to a crowd not followed by effect, endangering the lives of others, incitement to the disclosure of false news, incitement to degradation property and complicity for failure to report an offence.
The investigation of this case at the bar began on June 21, 2023 and lasted four days during which we attended witness appearances, explanations, broadcasts of sound elements and arguments from lawyers.
At the end of the debates, the prosecutor had requested prison sentences ranging from six months to five years and fines of five million to ten million CFA francs, all firm.
Source: Burkina Information Agency