EFTA02459251

From: Bob Crowe < Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2016 3:15 PM To: jeevacation@gmail.com Subject: FW: Roundup: Mixed reactions over eventual release of son to Senegal's ex-president FYI =nbsp; Rober= B. Crowe Partners Nelson Mullins =nbsp; From: Chris Cu=hing Sent: Wednesday, June 22, 2016 11:13 AM To: Bob Crowe; Vinoda Basnayake; Chris Cushing Subject: Roundup: Mixed reactions over eventual release of son to Se=egal's ex-president Roundup: Mixed reactions over eventual release of=son to Senegal's ex-president 0 Comment(s) <http://www.china.org=cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2016-06/22/content_38722740.htm> Print <javascript:doPrint();> E-mail <javascript:emTh=s();> </=pan>Xinhua, June 22, 2016 Adjust font size: siavascript:changeFontSize(1)> There has been mixed reaction from Senegal's politic=l class over eventual release of Karim Wade, former minister and son to ex=president Abdoulaye Wade. Wade was sentenced to five years in prison for corru=tion, in an anti-graft campaign that was launched by President Macky Sall =fter coming to power in March 2012. "We never wanted to have Wade imprisoned, but w= live in a country that respects the rule of law and everyone is subject t= it," said Youssou Toure, the secretary of state in charge of literacy, who is also an official of the ruling party, Alliance for the=Republic (APR). "If the presidential pardon is accorded to him =we applaud that move since it is on humanitarian grounds," Toure adde=. EFTA_R1_01564065 EFTA02459251 "We are in a country of laws. Everyone has a ri=ht to think and say whatever they want. Today, there are many people sayin= a lot of things, but no one so far kn=ws how Wade is going to walk out of the prison," another APR official=and member of parliament Abdou Mbow added. "No one =nows whether it will be a presidential pardon, conditional release or an a=nesty," Mbow said, deploring the habit of most Senegalese people to "read muc=" into political and judicial decisions. Ahmet Fall who is a parliamentarian on the ticket of=former ruling party, Senegal Democratic Party (PDS), expressed joy at the =illingness of Sall to release Wade. Addressing the press recently in Dakar, Fall asked t=e president to respect his commitment on the issue. "Wade was prosecuted and sentenced. Today, he s=ould leave the prison, but all that I want to ask is that Sall honours his=word before the people. The release of Wade will be a breath of fresh air for his father who has given everything for this country,&quo=; he said. In an interview that appeared in a local daily newsp=per, parliamentarian Modou Diagne Fada who is a former confidant of ex-pre=ident Wade, said the former powerful minister was "politically arrested, and he should be politically released."</=> "Karim Wade is not supposed to be in prison. Un=il now when I am speaking to you, there is no evidence linking him to corr=ption and we continue to insist that his detention was arbitrary," Fada said. However, some members of the ruling party did not he=itate to criticise the decision of Senegalese president to release Wade fr=m prison. "If today, Wade who was found guilty of corrupt=on is released, it will be a political message directed to all people who =ill want to embezzle public funds or engage in corruption," warned Mamadou Ndoye, a member of the Democratic League that supports the =overnment. "Wade's release will signify: Yes, you can stea= and in any case, we shall set you free. This is why we think such an act =s not good under the current political situation, even though a pardon is a prerogative of the president of the republic," he affir=ed. Endit </=pan> Confidentiality Notice This message is intended exclusively for the individual or entity to whi=h it is addressed. This communication may contain information that is prop=ietary, privileged, confidential or otherwise legally exempt from disclosu=e. If you are not the named addressee, you are not authorized to read, prin=, retain, copy or disseminate this message or any part of it. If you have =eceived this message in error, please notify the sender immediately either=by phone (800- 237-2000) or reply to this e-mail and delete all copies of this message. 2 EFTA_R1_01564066 EFTA02459252