Senegal: two years in prison required against the two deputies who had hit their colleague
The images made the rounds on television and social networks: in the middle of the session, on December 2, 2022, the deputy Massata Samb of the PUR party - member of the opposition coalition Yewwi Askan Wi - goes resolutely towards Amy Ndiaye and strikes her a slap.
© Dakaractu - AFPTV
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
In Senegal, two years in prison were required against opposition deputies Massata Samb and Mamadou Niang.
The two men were tried on Monday, December 19, in Dakar for "
intentional assault
" against Amy Ndiaye.
In full session, on December 1, at the National Assembly, the elected member of the ruling coalition had received a slap and a kick in the stomach, but the defendants deny the facts of which they are accused.
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With our correspondent in Dakar,
Charlotte Idrac
"
I did not slap Amy Ndiaye
," Massata Samb said straight away.
The chosen one claims to have wanted to try to "
tear off his scarf
".
As for Mamadou Niang, author of the kick, he explains that he wanted to "
intervene
" when Amy Ndiaye threw a chair in the direction of his colleague.
For Me Baboucar Cissé, one of the lawyers of the deputy, the defendants “
deny the evidence
”: “
It is a means of defence.
The images were seen through all television channels, social networks.
They speak of a certain attack vis-à-vis their religious leader, but they are not in the Assembly through their religious leader, they defend the interests of the people!
This is a well-planned assault
.
»
In their defense, the deputy had made "
irreverent and inappropriate remarks
" towards Serigne Moustapha Sy, religious guide and honorary president of the PUR party.
The lawyers therefore pleaded "
the excuse of provocation
" and asked for the release:
“
What particularly caught our attention is the absence of the complainant, Amy Ndiaye, who alerted all national and international opinion to complain and aggravate the effect,
explains master Adama Fall.
We hope that the judge will retain the facts under another qualification, in their measures and their proportions.
»
“
If they felt offended, they had other ways to protest
”
But for the prosecution, the argument does not hold.
"
If they felt offended, they had other means of protesting
," said the prosecutor, who spoke to the president of the court.
“
You are the last bulwark of the protection of the fairer sex
,” she expressed.
Amy Ndiaye was absent during the hearing.
"
She is pregnant
," said her lawyers, medical report in support.
The defense of the deputy claims 500 million CFA francs in damages, more than 762,000 euros.
Judgment was reserved for Monday, December 26.
►Also read: In Senegal, two deputies in police custody after the violence in the hemicycle
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