Accident, alcohol, and brute force: Two vacationers cause a major scene with the Mbour police

After going for a drive to relieve stress in her supposed brother's car, A. Niang caused an accident before attempting to downplay the incident in the Mbour High Court. However, confronted by the statements of the vehicle's owner and witnesses, who confirmed her intoxication, she was found guilty and sentenced. Her friend, ACN Seck, prosecuted for collecting personal data, was acquitted.

The hearing was marked by the judge's sharp rebuke of A. Niang. In the dock, the defendant attempted to justify herself by explaining that she was going through a difficult period. "I was at home and I was stressed. I borrowed my brother's car to go for a drive. I hit a car, then I parked at the gas station before coming back to check on the situation," she stated.

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This version was immediately refuted by the presiding judge: "Your brother was questioned and he said something completely different. You were intoxicated, you disrespected the police officers. You don't have a driver's license and, on top of that, you drink yourself into a stupor before getting behind the wheel."

The magistrate added that all the testimonies gathered, including that of the man she presented as her brother, confirmed her obvious state of drunkenness at the time of the events.

Also prosecuted for collecting personal data, ACN Seck denied any direct involvement in the accident. She explained that she had simply come to Saly for a holiday and was not in the vehicle at the time of the collision.

"I came to Saly to have a good time. I received a call telling me that my friend was having problems with the police. I came to intervene," she maintained.

However, her intervention at the scene of the accident did not convince the court of the two women's overall conduct. The prosecutor accused them of causing a public disturbance by implying that their connections or status would allow them to evade law enforcement.

"Where do you think you are? You caused a scandal there. What do you represent to think you won't be judged? Do you think you're above the law?" the public prosecutor's representative insisted.

After reiterating that no one is above the law, the prosecutor sought to clarify the exact nature of the relationship between the defendant and the vehicle owner. The proceedings revealed that A. Niang and the owner were in fact not related by blood or even by first cousins.

"You have no family ties to the owner of the car. We are aware of everything. We ourselves, if the police stop us, will submit," the prosecutor insisted.

For the defense, Mr. Rama argued that the case should be assessed with restraint, pleading for "an extremely lenient application of the law" in favor of his client.

At the conclusion of deliberations, the court found A. Niang guilty of the charges against her, sentencing her to six months' imprisonment, including fifteen days of mandatory imprisonment, and a fine of 200,000 CFA francs. Her friend, ACN Seck, was acquitted.