O. Mbengue, who faced 15 years in prison, was ultimately sentenced to five years for the abduction of a minor. The criminal chamber of the Mbour High Court acquitted him of the rape charges. The events date back to August 22, 2022.

Ms. A. Diallo had filed a complaint at the police station against Mr. Mbengue, whom she accused of sexually abusing her daughter, A. Fall, who was under 16 years old at the time of the events.

In the dock of the criminal court, the victim recounted the circumstances of the first assault. According to her testimony, her mother had sent her to the home of "Uncle O. Mbengue" to retrieve a phone. The minor stated that the suspect's friend had given Uncle O. Mbengue a small bag from a pharmacy. There, the accused allegedly threatened her with a knife before raping her. She claims that the accused's friend was present and helped her restrain him on the bed. Afterward, O. Mbengue allegedly gave her a pill from a green box before threatening to kill her if she revealed what had happened.

Since then, she claims, the accused has "turned her into a sex object," giving her a cell phone so he could contact her at will. She adds that one day, the accused abused her at the family home, while her father was in the living room.

Traumatized, she reportedly developed behavioral problems at school, frequently getting into altercations with her classmates. Exasperated by the repeated assaults, she finally confided in her mother. "He had sexual relations with me on several occasions. I'd had enough and I told my mother," she said.

The medical certificate included in the file states that a minor under 16 years of age had been deflorated in the past.

But O. Mbengue denied all the accusations and suggested a conspiracy motivated by jealousy. He explained that A. Fall came to his home at night and asked if he knew her. After she introduced herself as Ms. Diallo's daughter, he allegedly reminded her that her mother complained about her poor grades and her friends. He admitted to giving her three cell phones and shoes, and also giving a phone to the mother. He claimed that Ms. Diallo sometimes invited him to lunch and confided her worries about her daughter.

Ms. Diallo stated that the accused was a friend with whom she discussed intimate matters. "My daughter was 14 years old when she started having sexual relations with him. When I filed a complaint, he came to my shop to ask for my forgiveness. He got down on his knees," she said.

For Omar Sène, the defendant's lawyer, both parties are concealing the true nature of their relationship. He questioned Ms. Diallo about the degree of closeness she had with his client, maintaining that he "has always denied being in a room with the victim."

Prosecutor Camara stated he was convinced that "A. Fall succumbed to coercion she was unable to resist." According to him, "the accused exerted psychological control over his victim. His behavior demonstrates that he is the perpetrator of the alleged sexual penetrations." Considering the acts to constitute pedophilia and rape of a minor, he requested a 15-year prison sentence. Ultimately, the accused received a five-year prison term.