The criminal chamber of the Kaffrine High Court examined a rape case this morning involving B. Diallo, a 27-year-old security guard. He is being prosecuted for the alleged rape of F. Wilane. Two diametrically opposed accounts were presented in court.

In court, the young woman emotionally recounted the circumstances that led her to file a complaint. According to her, it all started with a simple job search. Having come to Kaffrine to do laundry and earn enough to support herself, she claims to have met B. Diallo in front of her home.

“He asked me if I could wash his clothes,” she explained. But, according to her account, the conversation quickly took a different turn. The man allegedly offered her money in exchange for sex. First 2,000 CFA francs, then 5,000 CFA francs. She claims she refused this offer several times.

The complainant alleges that the accused told her he was home alone before forcing her into a bedroom. It was there, she claims, that he had sexual intercourse with her against her will. After the incident, she says she left the premises to go to the police and report her alleged attacker. Although she filed a civil suit, she did not seek any damages.

The accused's theory of a consensual and paid relationship

In court, B. Diallo gave a completely different version of events. Calm in his statements, he denied any coercion and maintained that the relationship was consensual.

According to him, F. Wilane came to his home to offer her laundry services. The discussion then turned to paid sex. "She asked me for 5,000 francs," he stated, explaining that an agreement had been reached between them before they went to his bedroom.

The accused stated that after the report, he went out to get some change, as he only had a 10,000 CFA franc note. Upon his return, the young woman had already left. When he saw police officers shortly afterward, he said he thought they had come to collect the money he owed her.

The prosecution is seeking a severe sentence; the verdict is expected on July 28.

At the end of the debates, the public prosecutor considered that the facts of rape were established and requested a sentence of ten years' criminal imprisonment against B. Diallo.

The defense, for its part, denounced a case based primarily on contradictory statements. The defendant's lawyer pleaded for acquittal, arguing that there was insufficient evidence to establish rape and asking the court to give his client the benefit of the doubt.

After several hours of deliberation, the criminal court adjourned the case for deliberation. The verdict will be delivered on July 28.