2023-06-20 17:26:01
The trial of Kokoly Jack Bignamou Haba alias Jack Woumpack continued this Tuesday, June 20 at the Coyah Criminal Court. The prosecution has requested a year in prison against the artist who is being prosecuted for remarks deemed “ethnic and racist”, made in a video posted on Facebook on June 8.
The reggae man’s public apologies during his first appearance on June 13 did not temper the public prosecutor’s office, which is pursuing him under the flagrante delicto procedure. This June 20, the prosecution requested a sentence of the defendant to one year in prison, including four months firm and eight months suspended. He asks the judge to also sentence him to a fine of 80 million Guinean francs and a ban on social networks for a period to be determined by the court. And this in accordance with Articles 1, 4 and 8 of the 2010 Constitution, 363 and 364 of the Penal Code; 27 and 29 of Law L/2015/037/AN, relating to Cyber-security and protection of personal data.
Late regrets
This indictment is made against Jack Woumpack for having made insulting and discriminatory remarks against the Fulani on his Facebook page. He accuses this community of being the cause of the deaths during street demonstrations on the Hamdallaye – Cimenterie axis. Victims that he describes as “human sacrifice” made in order to have political power. If the artist has since apologized, the prosecutor Almamy Sékou Camara speaks of “doctor after death”. “His role as an artist should be to promote peace and social cohesion instead of inciting ethnic hatred,” he remarks during his requisitions.
Me Fodé Mohamed Béavogui, the defendant’s lawyer, invokes his client’s ignorance of the law. He asks to dismiss him for the purposes of the prosecution for unconstitutional misdemeanor. Failing this, the lawyer pleads mitigating circumstances, condemning his client to pay a symbolic franc. He also pleads not to “kill him professionally”, by taking him away from speaking on social networks and giving him the opportunity to mend his ways. In turn, he cites article 544 of the criminal procedure code and those 14 and 15 of the criminal code.
During his first appearance on June 13, the reggae man admitted the facts of which he is accused and asked for forgiveness. The offending video was later deleted on Facebook. This June 20, the artist again recognized his wrong and said he regretted his words. The judge should decide within hours.
Arrested on June 9 by the Coyah Research Brigade, following a complaint filed by the Collective against ethnic hatred in Guinea and a prosecution injunction from the Keeper of the Seals, Jack Woumpack had been placed in police custody. During his first appearance, before the Coyah court, his request for release was refused. Since then, he has been staying at the remand center in this town located 50 km east of Conakry.
Abdoulaye Pellel Bah
Correspondent
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