Togo: Kpatcha, others to know fate Thursday
The verdict in the treason trial of Kpatcha Gnassingbe and five others accused of plotting to overthrow President Faure Gnassingbe in an alleged attempted coup in April 2009, will be given on Thursday.
The president of Togo’s Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court, Abalo Pétchéliba, said this after the defense presentations on Monday.
According to the Togo government website, the defense lawyers called for the release of their clients, saying the procedure leading to their arrest and detention did not comply with the constitution.
At the weekend, Togo’s Attorney General, Archangel Dossou, requested life sentences for Kpatcha and Esso Gnassingbe, General Assani Tidjani, Towbeli Kuma, Kokou Tchaa Dontema, and Sassou Sassouvi.
According to Dossou, the coup was well planned by Kpatcha, whom he described as “criminal agent number one”, and General Tidjani, as the “intellectual author of the coup”.
The judge also requested prison sentence of 12 months (including two months suspended) for Esso Kassiki for illegally carrying arms, while dropping all charges against 24 other defendants.
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