Thiès Court: Three students from the technical high school are on trial for theft within the institution

Three students from the François Xavier Ndione technical high school in Thiès appeared before the court of flagrant offenses for acts of theft committed in a group within their establishment.

In court, student MM Cissé admitted to stealing a motor coil from the school's cold storage workshop. He explained that he acted alone, entering the premises through a window. However, he stated that he eventually returned the stolen item.

However, the two other students being prosecuted, A. Sarr and M. Ndiaye, contested the accusations. They admitted to entering the workshop through a window, but denied any intention of stealing.

Representing the plaintiffs, an official from the technical high school stated that he was informed of the first theft before contacting Mr. Cissé's father. According to him, the father forced his son to return the stolen item. He added that the following day, the school security guard alerted him about A. Sarr and M. Ndiaye, who had been caught, according to him, attempting to steal copper coils from the same workshop. The representative clarified that the three defendants are students in the electromechanical engineering department and are not authorized to access that workshop.

Called to testify, security guard S. Ndiaye confirmed these statements. He stated that he recognized Mr. Cissé as the perpetrator of the first theft. Regarding the two other students, he explained that he surprised them in the workshop after hearing a noise. Upon his arrival, they fled by jumping out of the window, without managing to take the copper rolls.

In his submissions, the public prosecutor considered the facts established against Mr. Cissé. He requested that the charges be reduced from robbery committed by an organized group to simple theft, before seeking a guilty verdict with a suspended sentence.

Regarding Mr. Ndiaye and A. Sarr, the prosecution requested that the charges be reduced to attempted theft, that they be found guilty, and that they be given a suspended sentence. The case was adjourned for deliberation.