Dispute over articles in Thiès: A stone to the head, 20 days of incapacity for work and a fine of 50,000 FCFA

Aged 48, the merchant I. Fall appeared before the Thiès court of first instance for intentional assault and battery (CBV) resulting in a temporary incapacity for work (ITT) of 20 days on a young colleague aged 17.

The two men ran the same business and sold their products in the same location. It was in this context of close professional proximity that a dispute arose between them. According to the evidence presented at the hearing, I. Fall allegedly took some items belonging to the teenager, which sparked a heated argument.

In court, the defendant admitted to throwing the projectile, while claiming he acted in self-defense. I. Fall maintained that the teenager and his brother had initially attacked him. During the altercation, the victim allegedly threw a stone at him, which he then picked up and threw back.

The projectile struck the young man in the head, causing serious injuries confirmed by a medical certificate setting the period of incapacity for work at 20 days.

During the hearing, however, the plaintiff filed a letter of withdrawal. This concession weighed favorably in the outcome of the proceedings for the defendant, who faced a prison sentence given the seriousness of the assault.

The public prosecutor has requested the application of the law.

At the end of deliberations, the court found I. Fall guilty of assault and battery. Benefiting from the judges' leniency and the victim's withdrawal of the complaint, he avoided detention and was sentenced to a simple fine of 50,000 CFA francs.