French lawyer Antoine Vey was at the bedside of his client, the opponent Reckya Madougou, on the weekend in the civil prison of Missérété, on the outskirts of Porto Novo.
The opponent, a failed candidate of the Democratic Party in the presidential election, has been prosecuted for “criminal association and terrorism” since March. Me Antoine Vey is one of the two French lawyers of the Beninese opponent. His stay was brief, he stayed 48 hours and saw his client twice at the civil prison of Missérété, just outside Porto Novo.
The special prosecutor authorized both visits. The two meetings between his client and his counsel lasted a total of four and a half hours, in a special visiting room and under strict surveillance, says the lawyer. A window separated him from his client, still regrets Me Vey.
The lawyer reports that Reckya Madougou shares a cell for forty residents with eight fellow inmates. She had a refrigerator, a microwave, a radio. Everything was taken away from her.
Together with his Beninese colleague, Me Renaud Agbodjo, Me Vey made several requests to the Special Prosecutor in favor of his client. He wants all his household appliances to be returned to him and he wants to be allowed access to his relatives.
Mr. Vey also pleads for a placement under judicial supervision, because the file, in his eyes, is empty. He announces for the end of next week, a document that will present for the first time the version of facts of Reckya Madougou.
He also intends to refer the case of Madougou to the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention in Geneva. The date of the trial is still unknown. According to our information, the agenda depends on the investigating committee.