Mbour: He impersonates a representative of Serigne Mor Asta Touré and extorts more than 2 million CFA francs from a man seeking a child

The Mbour High Court tried Moustapha Mbaye for quackery and fraud. The defendant is accused of exploiting the distress of people seeking healing by posing as a disciple of the famous Serigne Mor Asta Touré, who has a large following on TikTok. Among his alleged victims was Médoune Fall, who reportedly gave him more than two million CFA francs in the hope of having children.

It all started with a video posted on TikTok. Moustapha Mbaye allegedly found a way to lure vulnerable people. He would take videos of Serigne Mor Asta Touré, known for his remedies and with a large following on the social network, and then add his own phone number. This way, internet users who wanted to contact the religious leader would be sent directly to him.

It was in these circumstances that Médoune Fall, who desperately wanted a child, came into contact with the defendant. In court, the plaintiff explained that an acquaintance had put her in touch with this man so that he could offer prayers on her behalf.

To gain his trust, Moustapha Mbaye allegedly made him believe that Serigne Mor Asta Touré had personally installed him in Mbour to represent his interests and take care of patients, thus saving them the trip to Touba.

Convinced, Médoune Fall then began to loosen the purse strings.

"He demanded 550,000 CFA francs from me. I gave him 500,000 CFA francs. Then I sent him 225,000 CFA francs for remedies. In total, I gave him two million and some," he explained in court.

But his interlocutor's financial appetite didn't stop there. Moustapha Mbaye allegedly demanded another 2,950,000 CFA francs. This new demand finally aroused Médoune Fall's suspicions.

"It was at that moment that I began to doubt his good faith," the plaintiff confided.

In his closing argument, the public prosecutor did not mince words. Visibly outraged by the charges against the defendant, he denounced the exploitation of human suffering for financial gain.

"You are wicked. There are acts that a Muslim should not do to his fellow human being," he said.

The prosecutor specifically addressed certain instructions given to the alleged victim. "Why tell him to go to sea with his wife, kill an ox there, and wash himself?" he asked.

Continuing its moral lesson, the prosecutor's office reiterated that a person's distress should not be used as an opportunity to enrich oneself.

"You should not be torturing the psychology of people who are in need. People are suffering in this country. If someone asks you for help with their illness, you should support them and help them solve their problem, not abuse their trust," the prosecutor rebuked.

Before concluding with a warning: "Stop your practices. Only the truth will ultimately prevail."

The public prosecutor also reiterated the principles and values that should guide human relations, urging everyone to show solidarity and compassion towards those facing difficulties.

Moustapha Mbaye will learn his fate on the 20th of this month.