Farba Ngom case: Me Moussa Bocar Thiam demands his release for medical reasons

Since August 7, 2025, four eminent doctors appointed by the order, at the request of the president of the college of investigating judges, have confirmed Farba Ngom's alarming state of health, notably citing a risk of sudden nocturnal death. In a statement made public, lawyer Moussa Bocar Thiam, a former minister, believes that the continued detention of the mayor of Agnams constitutes a flagrant violation of fundamental rights. According to him, the special pavilion—often presented as a treatment space for prisoners—is nothing more than a prison environment unsuitable for serious and fatal pathologies.

He recalls that international texts such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the African Charter on Human Rights and the Constitution of Senegal guarantee the right to life and prohibit any inhuman or degrading treatment.

Maitre Thiam insists: Senegalese law is clear. Article 140 of the Code of Criminal Procedure provides for the compulsory release of a detainee whose health is incompatible with detention. "All the criteria were met in Farba Ngom's case: appointment of experts by court order, medical examinations, detailed reports... The law and case law require his release," the lawyer asserts.

The former minister believes that the magistrate in charge of the case must act "in complete impartiality, with respect for the law and human dignity," recalling that no additional delay can justify the continued detention of a person in danger of death. "The prison establishment must in no case replace a hospital. Keeping Farba Ngom in such an environment directly endangers her life," warns Mr. Thiam.

For the lawyer, the urgency is clear: suspend pre-trial detention, guarantee adequate medical care, and, if necessary, prioritize alternative measures such as judicial supervision or house arrest with electronic monitoring.

“Free Farba Ngom and there will be justice!” concludes Maitre Moussa Bocar Thiam.