If the criminal chamber of the Tambacounda High Court follows the prosecutor's recommendation, the accused, 36-year-old tailor Jean Louis Moulaye Niang, who lives in the Plateau neighborhood, will spend the next 20 years in prison. The tailor, who appeared before the criminal chamber on Tuesday, is accused of sexually abusing NA Mbengue, a 9-year-old girl.

The events date back to May 13, 2024, when investigators from the Tamba central police station arrested him following a complaint from Ousmane Mbengue, who accused him of raping his underage daughter, NA Mbengue, who was only 9 years old. He explained that his wife had confided in him that she had sent their daughter to her tailor, and that the tailor had taken advantage of the situation to abduct her. The gynecologist at the maternity ward of the Tamba regional hospital, after examining the victim, issued a medical certificate attesting to a recent hymenal tear at 9:00 a.m.

Heard in the presence of her father, the victim explained that the accused had forced her into his workshop and coerced her into sexual relations under threat. She stated that she had bled, but that once home, she washed her blood-stained clothing. When questioned by investigators, the accused denied the accusations, claiming that he had not abused NA Mbengue, especially since between noon and 2 a.m., the alleged time of the incident, he was with his friend Issaga Sy, known as Boy Nar. He did, however, admit to having seen the young girl in front of his workshop around 1 p.m.

Issaga Sy, also known as Boy Nar, contradicted his friend's statements by saying that he had left the accused's workshop around 12 pm that day and had not returned until around 5 pm.

During the investigation, the accused and Ousmane Mbengue, who is civilly liable, maintained their statements. On this occasion, Maguette Mbengue, questioned for the first time, stated that he found it abnormal that his niece, upon returning home after her mother's errand, went straight to bed, even refusing to eat with the family.

Before the judge, the plaintiff reaffirmed her statements, specifying that the accused had forced her into his workshop, made her lie down on a bed, removed her underwear and forcibly penetrated her.

But the accused denied all these accusations. However, the deputy prosecutor considered the facts sufficiently established and requested a 20-year prison sentence.

The defense, led by Mr. Souleymane Ndéné Ndiaye, dismissed the contents of the police report.

According to the lawyer, there is a flaw in the investigation but also doubt about the identity of the person who raped the victim.

The chamber adjourned the case for deliberation until December 19th.