Senegal: trial of 32 defendants over HIV transmission opens in Louga
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Seneweb
The trial of Matar Ndiaga Seck and his 31 co-defendants opened on Wednesday before the Louga Criminal Court in Senegal for criminal conspiracy, intentional HIV transmission and sexual harassment, among other charges. The prosecutor requested an adjournment to 28 December 2026 because a defendant was ill and a lawyer was absent, according to Seneweb.
The public prosecutor requested an adjournment of the case involving Matar Ndiaga Seck and his 31 co-defendants, citing in particular the health of Mouhamed Ndiaye, also known as Oustaz, who is being held in the special ward, as well as the absence from the country of Me Cheikh Ndiaye, a lawyer representing a party in the proceedings. The public prosecutor proposed 28 December to allow, in particular, for the sick defendant to be brought to court and appear.
A defence lawyer proposed an adjournment to 26 November, considering the timeframe compatible with a fair trial, and requested that the proceedings be held behind closed doors. The Louga Criminal Court ultimately scheduled the pleadings for 14 December and planned for Mouhamed Ndiaye to be brought to court for that hearing. The judge will rule on whether the proceedings will be held behind closed doors at the opening of the next hearing.
Civil parties Serigne Modou and Abdou Cissé were present at the hearing. The case concerns, among other things, charges of criminal conspiracy, intentional HIV transmission, endangering the life of others, unlawful collection of personal data and sexual harassment.
