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A Malian court has sentenced the country’s former domestic intelligence chief, Colonel Kassoum Goita, to 15 years in prison after convicting him of conspiracy against the government.
The ruling followed a 10-day trial in which Goita denied plotting to overthrow the military-led government and instead accused the ruling junta of corruption, embezzlement and torturing him.
Goita was prosecuted on allegations of attempting a coup and undermining state institutions. The court found him guilty of criminal conspiracy and conspiracy against the government.
He was among the military officers who helped topple former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita in the August 2020 coup led by Colonel Assimi Goita, who is not related to him despite sharing the same surname.
Following international pressure, the military transferred power to a civilian-led transitional administration, during which Kassoum Goita was appointed head of domestic intelligence.
He was later removed from the position after Assimi Goita seized power again in a second coup in 2021 and installed himself as interim president.
Prosecutors had sought a 20-year prison term for Goita and five co-defendants. All six defendants denied the charges but were handed prison sentences ranging from seven to 15 years.
A member of the defence team said the verdict was expected and confirmed that the legal team would pursue all available domestic appeals before considering action before other judicial bodies.
