Former Senegal President’s Son Bags 6 Years Jail Term

The son of former President Abdullahi Wade of Senegal has been sentenced to six years in prison on corruption charges by a special court on Monday. He has also been fined 138 billion CFA francs ($228 million), thereby dashing his hopes of contesting in 2017.

Karim Wade, who is the presidential candidate of the main opposition party, the Senegalese Democratic Party (SDP), has been in detention since 2013. The SDP, however, chose him as the party’s flag bearer on Saturday raising the stakes ahead of the verdict. Karim denies any wrongdoing.

“The facts before us constitute illicit enrichment by karim Wade,” said Judge Henri Gregoire Diop, noting that he had hidden funds in offshore companies in the British Virgin Islands and Panama.

The next presidential election could come as soon as 2017 if president Sall Macky wins approval at a referendum next year for reducing the presidential term to five years from seven.

Karim Wade has repeatedly said he is the victim of a political witch-hunt , an allegation the government strongly denies.