VZCZCXRO3885
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHBP #0707 2181437
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 051437Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAMAKO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9512
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

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