The Dakar Tribunal in Senegal has heard the case of two men accused of stealing 14 million francs worth of jewelry from popular TV host Eva Tra. The incident occurred on July 24, and the two accused, Mouhamed Coulibaly and Baye Guèye, appeared before the court. Coulibaly, a 40-year-old businessman from Taïba Niassène, is accused of fraud, while Guèye, a 41-year-old painter, is accused of receiving stolen goods.
According to the prosecution, the two men used a sophisticated telephone scam to trick Eva Tra's family into handing over the jewelry. They impersonated a Sonatel agent and told Eva Tra's son that their phone line would be cut off. They then made 17 simultaneous calls to Eva Tra's phone to prevent her from verifying the information. The son was instructed to break into his mother's safe and hand over the jewelry to a taxi driver.
The prosecution presented evidence, including phone records and IMEI localization, which linked the accused to the crime. The phone used to make the calls was traced to Taïba Niassène, and the number used was registered to Coulibaly. Additionally, Guèye had initially confessed to receiving 400,000 francs as a commission for selling the jewelry in Gambia but later retracted his statement, claiming he was coerced by the police.
The prosecution has requested a five-year prison sentence for each of the accused. Eva Tra's lawyers have demanded 100 million francs in damages, while Sonatel, which was impersonated by the scammers, has requested 1 million francs in damages. The defense has argued that the phone records are not valid evidence and that the accused should be acquitted due to lack of evidence.
The court has adjourned the case and will deliver its verdict on October 9. Eva Tra, whose real name is Awa Traoré, is a well-known TV host in Senegal. Her lawyers have stated that the case is not just about the stolen jewelry but also about the emotional distress caused to their client.
The case highlights the growing problem of telephone scams in Senegal. The authorities have warned citizens to be cautious when receiving unsolicited calls and to verify the identity of callers. The case also raises questions about the security of phone lines and the need for better protection against scams.
The verdict is expected to be delivered on October 9. If convicted, the two accused could face a five-year prison sentence. The case has garnered significant attention in Senegal, and many are waiting to see the outcome.
Key points
- Two men accused of stealing 14 million francs worth of jewelry from Senegalese TV host Eva Tra.
- The accused used a sophisticated telephone scam to trick Eva Tra's family into handing over the jewelry.
- The prosecution has requested a five-year prison sentence for each of the accused.
