Ouagadougou:A 19-year-old street vendor, prosecuted for using a counterfeit banknote, was acquitted.

According to Burkina Information Agency, the street vendor, identified as AO, was prosecuted after being found with a counterfeit 10,000 CFA franc note. He was acquitted by the Ouaga I High Court after a brief detention at the Ouagadougou Detention and Correction Center (MACO).

AO appeared before the Ouaga I High Court on September 23, 2026. Despite the lack of a microphone causing difficulty in following the proceedings, it was noted that AO sells bags for 5,000 CFA francs each. During his rounds, he encountered an older merchant, referred to by the initials SA, who was selling jerseys. AO reportedly handed SA the counterfeit note without realizing its nature. SA, upon discovering the note was fake, crumpled it and threatened to tear it up, leading AO to plead with him not to do so.

The shopkeeper, SA, then led AO to a nearby police officer, resulting in AO’s arrest and subsequent detention at MACO. During court proceedings, SA testified that AO was innocent, explaining that AO had been duped by another customer who had purchased two bags from him with the counterfeit note.

In closing arguments, the prosecutor acknowledged the difficulty in proving AO's intent to use the counterfeit note knowingly. Considering this was AO's first court appearance, the prosecutor requested his acquittal. The presiding judge decided to acquit AO, resulting in his immediate release. AO, with a smile and relief evident on his face, chose freedom when asked by the judge through his interpreter.

The judge humorously suggested AO switch from selling bags to selling grilled meat, marking the end of the court proceedings.