Phone thefts in Thiès: tried three times, her mother cites mental health issues

Already sentenced to three months in prison for stealing a cell phone, 26-year-old A. Diop appeared again this Monday before the Thiès court. The young woman is being prosecuted in two separate cell phone theft cases.

In the first case, she is accused of stealing a mobile phone and a pouch containing 50,000 CFA francs from B. Sylla.

In court, the complainant explained that the defendant had entered her home under the pretext that she wanted to go to the toilet to satisfy a natural need.

“She found me sitting in my home. She told me she wanted to go to the toilet to urinate. When I got up to get her some water so she could go, she stole my phone and my purse containing 50,000 CFA francs that I had left there,” said B. Sylla.

According to the victim, upon her return, she discovered that A. Diop had disappeared. After unsuccessfully trying to find her, she went to the police to file a complaint.

A few days later, B. Sylla claims to have recognized the young woman in a video posted on TikTok, showing her after her arrest for theft. She then went to the police station to report it to the investigators. They reportedly told her that the woman in question was already in custody in connection with another theft case.

In court, A. Diop categorically denied the facts, claiming he had stolen neither the phone nor the pouch containing the money.

The plaintiff claimed 350,000 CFA francs in damages. The public prosecutor requested that the law be applied.

The court adjourned the case for deliberation until September 21, 2026.

A second complaint for phone theft

In the second case examined yesterday, Monday, A. Diop is being prosecuted for the theft of a mobile phone belonging to F. Fall, an elderly lady.

According to the victim's statement, the defendant came to her home claiming that her mother had sent her to retrieve her phone number. It was under these circumstances that she took advantage of the situation to steal her phone before fleeing.

Once again, A. Diop denied the accusations against her. She maintained that the two plaintiffs had based their claims solely on the TikTok video showing her after her arrest to identify her as the perpetrator of the phone thefts.

The defendant also spoke about her state of health, claiming to suffer from headaches which she had inherited from her father.

Her mother, called to testify, claimed that her daughter suffered from mental health issues and that these issues were the cause of her actions. However, no medical documentation was presented to support this statement.

F. Fall claimed 150,000 CFA francs in damages.

The public prosecutor again requested the application of the law. The case was adjourned for deliberation until September 21, 2026.