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| Senegal corruption trial of Karim Wade condemned | Senegal corruption trial of Karim Wade condemned |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A leading Senegalese rights group has condemned the corruption trial of ex-President Abdoulaye Wade's son, Karim. | A leading Senegalese rights group has condemned the corruption trial of ex-President Abdoulaye Wade's son, Karim. |
| He is making his first appearance before a special court in the capital, Dakar, on charges of embezzling about $238m (£140m), which he denies. | |
| The League of Human Rights (LHR) said the trial would not be fair as it required him to prove his innocence, rather than the prosecution his guilt. | The League of Human Rights (LHR) said the trial would not be fair as it required him to prove his innocence, rather than the prosecution his guilt. |
| He was arrested in April 2013, a year after his father's defeat in elections. | He was arrested in April 2013, a year after his father's defeat in elections. |
| 'Minister of earth and sky' | |
| Karim Wade was influential in the former government, holding several ministerial posts simultaneously, including minister for infrastructure and air transportation. | Karim Wade was influential in the former government, holding several ministerial posts simultaneously, including minister for infrastructure and air transportation. |
| His large portfolio led to him being dubbed "the minister of the earth and the sky" and he was alleged to have acquired several foreign firms by illicit means. | His large portfolio led to him being dubbed "the minister of the earth and the sky" and he was alleged to have acquired several foreign firms by illicit means. |
| When he was arrested, he was accused of illegally amassing about $1.4bn during his father's 12-year rule, which ended with opposition leader Macky Sall's election as president in 2012. | When he was arrested, he was accused of illegally amassing about $1.4bn during his father's 12-year rule, which ended with opposition leader Macky Sall's election as president in 2012. |
| But the amount has been reduced to about $238m. | But the amount has been reduced to about $238m. |
| Karim Wade's lawyer Seydou Diagne told the BBC that President Sall's government had initiated the trial for political reasons. | Karim Wade's lawyer Seydou Diagne told the BBC that President Sall's government had initiated the trial for political reasons. |
| "The only thing they want is to get rid of a political rival," he said. | "The only thing they want is to get rid of a political rival," he said. |
| Assane Doma Ndiaye, the LHR's president, said the special court would operate in an unusual way by reversing a basic legal principle - that the prosecution must prove guilt. | Assane Doma Ndiaye, the LHR's president, said the special court would operate in an unusual way by reversing a basic legal principle - that the prosecution must prove guilt. |
| This meant that "the rights of the defence are sacrificed", he said. | This meant that "the rights of the defence are sacrificed", he said. |
| "They don't take into account the presumption of innocence; the right to appeal, " Mr Ndiaye added. | "They don't take into account the presumption of innocence; the right to appeal, " Mr Ndiaye added. |
| Justice Minister Sidiki Kaba defended the trial, saying the government was trying to fight corruption and ensure there was accountability and transparency. | Justice Minister Sidiki Kaba defended the trial, saying the government was trying to fight corruption and ensure there was accountability and transparency. |
| He was confident judges would take into account criticism and that the trial would take place "under the best conditions", he said. | He was confident judges would take into account criticism and that the trial would take place "under the best conditions", he said. |
| The BBC's Raissa Youssouf in Dakar says Karim Wade could be sentenced to 25 years in prison if convicted. | The BBC's Raissa Youssouf in Dakar says Karim Wade could be sentenced to 25 years in prison if convicted. |
| Senegal had filed a complaint against him in France where the government believed he had invested in property but the case was recently dropped because of a lack of substantial evidence, our reporter says. | Senegal had filed a complaint against him in France where the government believed he had invested in property but the case was recently dropped because of a lack of substantial evidence, our reporter says. |