The Dakar criminal court has postponed its verdict in the signature falsification case involving former Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, where Khardiata Tandian stands accused. Initially scheduled for July 9, 2026, the decision has been pushed back to July 23 of the same year after Cherif Zeyni Abidin Sy, identified as her alleged accomplice, failed to appear in court.

The tribunal also dismissed Tandian’s request for provisional release, despite her lawyer’s arguments that she meets all eligibility criteria. The defense highlighted her prolonged pre-trial detention exceeding a year, her status as a married woman and mother, and the possibility that her time already spent incarcerated could satisfy any potential sentence. They warned that further detention would severely destabilize her social standing.

Prosecutors, however, strongly opposed her release, citing risks to public order and insufficient guarantees that she would remain available for future court proceedings. Even though the defense contended that witness intimidation was no longer a concern since Tandian had already testified, the court sided with the prosecution. As a result, Khardiata Tandian will remain in custody until the case reaches its conclusion.