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Ex-Chad Leader Temporarily Released from Jail Due to Coronavirus Quarantine

VOA News

   Chad's former dictatorHisseneHabrehas been granted a two months
   reprieve from his life sentence by a judge in Senegal, where he was
   convicted of crimes against humanity.

   His lawyer reportedly requested the humanitarian leave because he is in
   his 70's, and the elderly are urged to show extreme caution to avoid
   infection.

   The judge said Senegal authorities are using the Cap Manuel prison in
   Dakar to hold new inmates in solitary confinement while in coronavirus
   quarantine, in order to avoid any potential spreading of the virus.

   Habrewill spend his 60 day leave at his home inQuakam, a district of
   Dakar.

   The French NewsAgency(AFP) said an association of victims of his regime
   criticized the decision to release the former Chadian leader, arguing
   "the health crisis should not be used as an excuse for the early
   release ofHisseneHabre."

   So far, Senegal has recorded 226 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and
   two people have died.

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