MALIANS RELEASE FIVE CHILD TRAFFICKING SUSPECTS

UNCLAS BAMAKO 000707 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DRL DEPT FOR G/TIP E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM KCRM PGOV KJUS ML SUBJECT: MALIANS RELEASE FIVE CHILD TRAFFICKING SUSPECTS PENDING TRIAL REF: A. BAMAKO 00312 ¶B. 07 BAMAKO 00717 ¶1. On June 20 Malian judicial authorities the western town of Kita released three individuals arrested in March for allegedly trafficking 26 children (Ref. A). The individuals were released on their own recognizance in advance of their trial date, which has not yet been set. The public prosecutor in Kita, Mahamoud Mauloud Najim, told the Embassy he believed the trial would occur sometime this year. The three individuals provided local authorities with addresses and telephone numbers in Kita where they could be summoned once the trial has been scheduled. Mr. Najim said only one of the accused is actually from the town of Kita. ¶2. The Embassy learned of the individuals' release via a local NGO that cares for child trafficking victims. The National Direction for the Promotion of Children and Families - which handles child trafficking issues for the Malian Government under the authority of the Ministry for the Promotion of Women, Children and the Family (MPFEF) - was unaware of the decision by judicial authorities in Kita until so informed by the Embassy. MPFEF officials in the regional capital of Kayes subsequently told the National Director for the Promotion of Children and Families that just one of the three suspects had been released. The National Director, however, admitted to the Embassy that information provided by Mr. Najim regarding the status of the three individuals was likely more accurate than details forwarded from the MPFEF office in Kayes. The National Director told the Embassy he was "as surprised" as we were to learn that the three individuals had been released from prison after spending only a few months in jail. ¶3. Two individuals from Cote d'Ivoire who were arrested in the southern town of Sikasso in March 2007 for allegedly trafficking 46 young men and children (Ref. B) were also released on their own recognizance in June or July 2008 pending the setting of a trial date. Despite contacting several judicial officials in Sikasso, the Embassy has been unable to obtain any information regarding the court's decision to release the two Ivoirian suspects. On August 5 the public prosecutor in Sikasso confirmed to the Embassy that the individuals had indeed been released but was unable to provide further information. ¶4. We continue to press Malian judicial authorities and MPFEF officials for an accounting of why trafficking suspects in Kita and Sikasso were released. We will report on the steps the Malian government is taking to bring these individuals to trial and prevent them from disappearing septel. LEONARD