During the trial for his son’s death, Ousmane Dia spoke out once morest members of the Reuzegom circle and their parents. He expressed anger towards KU Leuven and the young men involved, stating that they were not true friends to his son. Ousmane also mentioned that Sanda was already unwell following the cantus, and was dragged to Vorselaar despite his condition. He disputed claims that his son was friends with the defendants and vowed to prove otherwise. He spoke of his own struggle to cope with Sanda’s death, thanking medication for helping him to function.
Ousmane Dia, Sanda’s father, spoke Monday morning during the trial concerning the death of his son. He attacked the members of the Reuzegom circle and their parents. “I don’t have any hate, you shouldn’t go to jail. But you weren’t Sanda’s friends, because a friend doesn’t let you down,” he said.
“I’m angry, very angry. Angry at KU Leuven, angry at the young men here, angry at the parents of the boys here,” added Ousmane Dia. “On December 5, while I was in the hospital, holding my son’s hand to prevent him from leaving, these parents were busy with their lawyer, very big lawyers from Belgium. I am angry and rightly title, I think, because it is claimed here that Sanda was a friend of these gentlemen. But I will prove that not true.”
Sanda Dia case: “You know what happened”, declares the public prosecutor who requires 18 to 50 months in prison once morest the 18 defendants
Ousmane Dia then mentioned, among other things, the fact that Sanda was already not well following the cantus. “Sanda mightn’t dress himself, he mightn’t walk, and yet you dragged him to Vorselaar. And you all claim that following a sip of Ice tea and a piece of bread, he became normal. How can you say that? I wonder what’s on your mind.”
“If I can stand here today and talk, it’s thanks to the medication. I got lost in Sanda’s death, I can’t function anymore. I don’t know myself how my wife tolerated me , because I am no longer livable”, concluded Ousmane Dia.
The Sanda Dia case has been a tragedy for the Dia family and a sobering reminder of the dangers of hazing within student organizations. Ousmane Dia’s emotional statement during the trial highlights the deep pain and anger that is felt by the family and the community. We hope that the trial will bring justice for Sanda and his family, and that it will also serve as a wake-up call for universities and student organizations to take a hard look at their hazing practices and make necessary changes to prevent tragedies like this from happening once more.
