In the 2010s, he was propelled onto the web thanks to his humorous videos. The Franco-Ivorian Observateur Ebène was placed in pre-trial detention this Tuesday, April 16 in Abidjan (Ivory Coast). At issue: his insulting remarks launched on social networks against a famous Ivorian actress and presenter. In a Facebook post, the Ivorian platform for the Fight Against Cybercrime (PLCC) reported on the dispute.
To understand the affair, we have to go back six months ago. At the time of the events, the Internet star in France and Africa answered questions from his subscribers on the Snapchat platform. He then seems to attack Marie Paule Adjé, a key actress in Ivory Coast, considered close to power.
Insults on Snapchat
In the short extract, we can see the one who flirts with the million subscribers on Instagram, bluntly insulting the Ivorian television columnist. “Marie Paule Adjé, she’s a bitch, she’s a whore” can be heard in the video where Observateur appears in front of the camera.
But according to his lawyer, Me Aurane Reihanian, the video posted on the web is “truncated”. “The first part of the video is revealed but not the second.” In the latter, Observateur “realized live that he had the wrong protagonist, not targeting Marie Paul Adjé”, defends his advice to Paris Match.
Despite the outspoken Youtuber’s apologies to the person concerned, the 29-year-old host filed a complaint, triggering an investigation for insults and defamation. At the end of his police custody, Observateur was placed in pre-trial detention in the Abidjan remand and correction center (Maca). Considered one of the worst prisons in the country.
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UN appealed for “arbitrary” detention
According to the magazine Jeune Afrique, the conditions of detention there are particularly harsh. The detainees would be herded by the dozens into cramped, smelly and overheated cells. Tuberculosis is said to be the leading cause of death. “There are almost 8,000 people detained for a prison which has a capacity of 1,500 people,” Amnesty International already explained to RFI in 2020.
Observateur’s lawyer agrees: “ I am very worried about his conditions of detention. We will contact the UN authorities today so that they can investigate his arbitrary detention », explains Aurane Reihanian. If found guilty, the influencer whose children reside in France risks a fine of 20 million CFA francs (around 30,000 euros) and five years of imprisonment. His trial is scheduled for April 23.
