Justice : le chef de corps de la musique des armées risque 10 ans de prison
Brought before the Pikine-Guédiawaye criminal court in a case involving the alleged counterfeiting of one billion CFA francs worth of "black money," Commander Ibrahima Chimère Barro, head of the army's main band, faces a sentence of ten years' imprisonment and a fine of 20 million CFA francs. This is the sentence requested by the prosecution against him and his three co-defendants, reports the daily newspaper L'Observateur, which attended the hearing.
The case dates back to 2023, following a police operation in Keur Massar, according to the same source. The prosecution alleges that the four men formed a structured network involved in trafficking counterfeit currency. Commander Barro is presented as the keeper of the counterfeit currency. Hubert Assogba allegedly acted as an intermediary and fixer, while Mbacké Sow Ndiaye, a student, and Mamadou Fatou Ndiaye, a postal worker, were responsible for washing and distributing the counterfeit bills.
During the preliminary investigation, the police reported the seizure of a bag containing the incriminating material.
In court, however, the trial was marked by a complete reversal of testimony from the defendants, who categorically denied the accusations. Commander Ibrahima Chimère Barro recanted his statements made during the investigation. "I deny the charges. I told this story because a superior officer told me to confess. He assured me the matter would be resolved within fifteen days," he declared in court. According to his new version, he was simply on his way to Keur Massar after picking up two hitchhikers when he was stopped by the gendarmes.
For his part, Hubert Assogba denied any involvement in a counterfeit currency network. "I went to Camp Leclerc for a matter concerning wind instruments. That was the only time I met Commander Barro," he maintained, explaining that his presence in the area on the day of his arrest was related to the installation of a sound system in a church.
The defense denounced the case as "empty," highlighting the lack of physical evidence, including the absence of sealed items presented in court and technical analysis of the alleged counterfeit bills. "Without sealed items, the trial is dead in the water," one of the defendants' lawyers insisted.
Following the prosecution's arguments, which maintain the existence of a counterfeiting network, the court decided to take the case under advisement. The verdict is expected on April 15, concludes the newspaper of the Future Media Group.
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