Thiès Court: Prosecuted for rape, he creates confusion in the courtroom; the prosecution requests a 20-year prison sentence.

The Criminal Chamber of the Thiès High Court heard the case on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, involving farmer I. Seydi, over 50 years old, and a 12-year-old girl, for rape, pedophilia, and abduction of a minor. The events took place in 2023 in Fass Boye, in the Tivaouane department.

In court, in the absence of the victim, the defendant admitted to having had sexual relations with a girl he identified as Yvonne Mané, while claiming not to know the victim presented in the case file as Fatou Mané. He stated that the young woman had consented and justified his actions by referring to a romantic relationship.

“I was in love with this girl. Our houses are next to each other. I had decided to marry her. When I told her father, he said he would talk to her mother first. The girl would then come to my house to make me tea. It was during these times that we had sexual relations on several occasions. I never forced her. I took advantage of my wife’s absence to sleep with her,” the defendant explained.

According to the investigation, when the teenager became pregnant, the accused allegedly gave her medication to induce an abortion.

The victim's father clarified that it was the same person and that Yvonne Mané is also known as Fatou Mané. "When I noticed a change in my daughter's appearance, I asked her if I. Seydi was sleeping with her, and she said no. A few days later, I noticed she was gaining weight. I then alerted the mother, who took her to the hospital. The medical examination revealed that she was pregnant. When questioned about the perpetrator, she named I. Seydi," the father stated.

The defendant, however, continued to maintain that he had never known Fatou Mané, thus creating confusion in the case. The defense therefore requested a postponement to allow the victim to appear. The judge granted the request and adjourned the case until June 9, 2026, to hear Fatou Mané, who is currently in Casamance.

In court on Monday, July 27, with the civil party still absent, the defendant, I. Seydi, continued to contest the victim's identity and maintained that he had only ever known Yvonne Mané. He claimed that her parents had used a false birth certificate to sue him. The judge then reminded him that the victim's parents stated they had only one daughter, named Fatou Mané.

The defendant also admitted to having had unprotected sexual relations with Yvonne Mané on several occasions and specified that she was consenting.

But during the preliminary investigation, Fatou Mané stated that the accused had given her medication to induce an abortion. She explained that she considered the accused her father. But when they were alone at his home, the man would invite her into his bedroom and force her to have sexual relations.

The public prosecutor emphasized that the defendant had never mentioned Yvonne Mané's name during the preliminary investigation and that these denials were unfounded. The prosecution believes that I. Seydi is trying to take advantage of the defendant's absence to create confusion. According to the prosecutor, the defendant's guilt is beyond dispute. He requested a 20-year prison sentence.

Deliberated on September 7, 2026.