Senegal court denies appeals for release from prison for ex-president's son

DAKAR, Senegal – The son of Senegal's former President Abdoulaye Wade lost a bid to be freed from his six-year prison sentence when the Supreme Court rejected an appeal on his conviction.

Karim Wade, who held several high level Cabinet positions in his father's government, was convicted in March on charges of illegally accumulating a fortune of at least $200 million.

Wade also owes a $230 million fine. He was imprisoned in 2013 and went on trial in July 2014.

His legal team was not present Thursday, after also boycotting the 2014 trial on the grounds the verdict was determined ahead of time..