Midnight trap, machete and...: the terrifying modus operandi of "Mbaye Boundaw"

Brought before the Criminal Court, Mr. Sarr, known as "Mbaye Boundaw" (27 years old), faces a sentence of 15 years' imprisonment. He is being prosecuted for criminal conspiracy and armed robbery committed at night, with violence and the use of weapons.

According to the public prosecutor's office, the group operated according to a well-established modus operandi in 2022. A member would contact a motorcycle taxi driver under the pretext of a fare, asking him to come alone. On the way, the passenger would stop the motorcycle before turning off the engine and threatening the victim with a machete to rob him of his motorcycle, phone, and money.

This scheme reportedly claimed several victims, including K. Diop, A. Fall, S. Sow, and A. Gaye. L'Observateur reports that K. Diop was robbed of his motorcycle, cell phone, and 161,000 FCFA after being threatened with a machete to the collarbone. The prosecution argues that the repeated nature of this method demonstrates prior agreement among the group members. The prosecution further bases its case on the accused's identification by several victims, as well as his reputation in his neighborhood of Malika.

In court, the accused categorically denied all the charges. He claims not to know any of the victims and suggests mistaken identity: "Maybe they're confusing me with someone else," he argued before the judges.

For its part, the defense contested the strength of the incriminating evidence and denounced the lack of physical proof. The defendant's lawyer notably regretted that no telephone records had been obtained from the phone companies to verify the origin of the calls mentioned in the case file. Emphasizing that some initial complaints had been filed against persons unknown and challenging the reliability of certain witness statements, the lawyer requested an acquittal based on reasonable doubt.

Considering the body of evidence sufficient, the prosecution maintained its recommendations. The Criminal Chamber will deliver its verdict on October 6, adds the newspaper of the Future Media Group.