Hedallah lawyers expect sentence decision on Sunday

Defense lawyers for the former President of Mauritania Muhammad Khouna Weld Hedallah expected the court to pronounce its verdict on Sunday regarding the accusations against him.

They explained that the criminal court in Nouakchott, which he has been brought before since the beginning of this month, December, together with other 14 collaborators on charge of preparing for a coupe "will eventually issue its sentence next Sunday."

The chairman of the court yesterday decided to suspend the trial until December 28, after he had listened to the last argument made by his lawyers and the prosecutor.

Four lawyers, the first among the bar association members in Mauritania defended for the innocence of their clients, stressing that the measures taken are futile and the evidences are silly.

Lawyer Ibrahim Weld Abati, known for helping political detainees cases, said "Our clients only committed the crimes of their desire to take part in the democratic game, hoping to make a change in the context of the constitutional system, and the political pluralism guaranteed by the constitution and affiliated laws," indicating that the charges are for politcal reasons and not criminal.

Worthy mentioning that Hedallah was the main rival for the current President of Mauritania in the recent elections. He refused to acknowledge the results of these elections saying it was full of fraud in all its stages.

The trial of these accused persons started on the first of December in front of the criminal court in Nouakchott, and postponed for the first time on December 15, to allow witnesses to show evidence that Hedallah received money from Libya.

When the trial started on Thursday, the chairman of the court said that "those witnesses are now outside Mauritania."