The Franco-Spanish lawyer Juan Branco, imprisoned on Sunday in Dakar in connection with recent unrest in Senegal, was released on Monday under judicial supervision before being expelled.
Charged with an attack, conspiracy or even spreading false news, the Franco-Spanish lawyer Juan Branco is preparing to be sent back to France, the authorities and his lawyers said.
Juan Branco, who entered Senegal irregularly several days ago to participate in the defense of opponent Ousmane Sonko, despite an arrest warrant against him, was arrested Friday evening in Mauritania after several days of research. He had been handed over to the Senegalese authorities and detained on Sunday on various charges.
“He was taken out of prison this morning (Monday) and presented to the judge who notified him of his placement under judicial supervision,” one of his lawyers, Robin Binsard, told AFP. He was then handed over to the police for deportation, he said.
“He is exhausted but relieved”
“The Minister of the Interior has issued an order to expel him (…) In the next few hours, he should leave Senegalese territory,” Senegalese Minister of Justice Ismaïla Madior Fall told the press.
“He is exhausted but relieved,” added Mr. Binsard. The minister indicated that Juan Branco had refused to eat and drink while in detention.
Juan Branco was charged Sunday with attack, conspiracy, dissemination of false news, acts and maneuvers likely to compromise public security or cause serious political unrest, illegal stay and contempt of court, according to his lawyers.