Sissili: Three young men accused of beating up a suspected customs informant appear in court to explain themselves. Three young men prosecuted for violently assaulting a man they suspected of informing customs officials about their activities appeared before the High Court of Tenkodogo.
According to Burkina Information Agency, despite the victim's plea for leniency, the prosecution requested two months of community service and a fine of one million CFA francs for each defendant. The verdict is expected on July 2, 2026. The silence was almost oppressive in the courtroom of the Tenkodogo High Court when the three defendants appeared before the judges on Thursday, June 25.
In court, the circumstances of the events were precisely recounted. The case dates back to May 13, 2026. On that day, three young men were transporting goods from the Bagr© area to Tenkodogo on two tricycles. According to the evidence presented at the hearing, their goods had already been intercepted several times by customs services.
During their journey, they repeatedly crossed paths with a man they knew well, as he lived in the same neighborhood. Shortly afterward, customs officers seized their goods again. For the three young people, the connection was quickly made: they were convinced that this man had communicated their location to customs officers. With the help of their elder, introduced as their boss, they find him and beat him severely, injuring him.
The victim filed a complaint at the central police station in Tenkodogo. An investigation was then opened, leading to the arrest of the three suspects, their referral to the prosecutor's office, and their placement in pre-trial detention pending their court appearance. During the prosecution's closing arguments, the public prosecutor emphasized the scope of this case, arguing that it goes beyond the simple framework of intentional violence.
The prosecutor reminded everyone that "it is already serious to hit a person, but it is even more serious to hit them because they allegedly transmitted information to a public administration." According to him, even if the victim had indeed informed the customs services, she would not have committed any wrongdoing. Quite the contrary.
The prosecutor's representative stressed that anyone who is aware of an offense has a duty to report it to the competent authorities and that, in certain situations provided for by law, failure to report can make the person who remains silent liable. Despite the violence she suffered, the victim pleaded for leniency towards the defendants, citing their family ties. She limited herself to requesting reimbursement for her medical expenses.
The three defendants, for their part, admitted the facts, expressed their regrets, and offered their apologies to the victim and to the judicial authorities. At the end of its submissions, the public prosecutor requested that each of the three defendants be sentenced to two months of community service, a penalty which it presented as equivalent to six months of imprisonment, as well as the payment of a fine of one million CFA francs to the public treasury.
The court has taken the case under advisement. The verdict will be delivered on July 2, 2026. Beyond the fate of the accused, this decision is expected as a reminder of the role of justice in the face of acts of reprisal directed against people who collaborate with public authorities.