Senegal: conviction for fraud in the bac of two young students

The fraudsters were both sentenced this Thursday, August 5, to one month in prison, including seven days in prison (Illustrative image).

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3 min

In Senegal, the verdict concerning the student disguised as a woman to replace her friend during the baccalaureate exams was not long in coming.

Arrested Saturday, August 31 in Diourbel, in the center of the country, they both received this Thursday, August 5, one month in prison, including seven days in prison.

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With our correspondent in Dakar

,

Théa Ollivier

Only five days after their arrest, the student and his friend, accused of fraud and aiding and abetting exam fraud, came before the judge during a public hearing of flagrant offenses at the Diourbel tribunal de grande instance, where succeeded many cases.

The verdict fell at the end of the morning after a little more than an hour of hearing: one month in prison including seven days in prison, announces their lawyer Me Serigne Diongue. The latter is still satisfied with the decision: “ 

Of course they expected a heavier penalty. The penalty as provided for in the article which punishes this offense is up to three years. They regretted, that's what made the judge lenient against them. 

"

According to Malick Ciré Sy, local representative of the Raddho - an organization for the Defense of Human Rights present at the hearing - the high school graduate explained that she was overworked and called on her companion who had initially refused.

The young man said he regretted his act and explained that he acted out of friendship and not out of love.

He had been unmasked by surveillance during the baccalaureate English exam, dressed in a dress and a scarf to replace his girlfriend.

A photo that quickly made the rounds on social networks and media, being the subject of much criticism and comments.

Possible administrative sanctions

But if the criminal case is behind them, the student and the baccalaureate still risk being subject to disciplinary sanctions such as the ban from participating in any National Education exam or from enrolling in a public higher education establishment.

This worries their lawyer: “

University and school authorities can also decide on other sanctions which are independent of the criminal sanction pronounced by the judge.

We hope that the administrative authorities can have the same degree of understanding as the criminal judge so that the future of these two young people is not definitively compromised.

 "

The two defendants have returned to prison to serve the remainder of their sentence and are due out on Sunday August 8.

►Also read

: In Senegal, a student disguises himself to pass the bac instead of his lover

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