The affair which rocked the Red Cross and the Novotel hotel in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic is back in the spotlight. Yesterday, the Dakar Criminal Chamber examined the case of BN, a former Red Cross volunteer and plumber, accused of raping a patient confined in the hotel during the health crisis. A complex case where contradictions, gray areas and tangible elements mingle, making the verdict uncertain. L’Observateur, which reports the details of the hearing, returns to this significant episode.
A heavy context: when tragedy strikes in the middle of a pandemic
In 2020, the Novotel in Dakar, requisitioned to accommodate Covid-19 patients, became the scene of a sordid incident. Mb.G., a confined patient, accuses BN, a humanitarian agent supposed to watch over her, of having raped her in her hotel room. At the time, this accusation caused a public outcry, pushing the Minister of Health, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, to become a civil party alongside the victim.
According to the complainant’s testimony, BN, after gaining her trust by being attentive to her needs, entered her room by force, immobilized her on the bed, and used a surgical glove as a condom to commit the crime. act. Chilling remarks that the accused firmly denied.
A disturbing, but incoherent story
In court, the victim recounted with emotion the events which, according to her, occurred that day. She explains that she tried to contact the medical service after the incident, without success. However, his testimony was marred by notable contradictions, oscillating between accusations of rape and attempted rape.
Defense lawyers exploited these inconsistencies to weaken the prosecution, also highlighting the absence of decisive physical evidence. Indeed, a medical certificate only revealed an old minor non-hemorrhagic tear, insufficient to formally establish non-consensual sexual intercourse.
The prosecution, however, put forward another hypothesis: the inconsistencies in the victim’s account could be linked to post-assault trauma. “Victims of sexual violence often have gaps in their memory,” recalled the prosecutor, requesting, however, the reclassification of the facts as indecent assault and not rape, and requesting a sentence of 7 years in prison.
An offensive defense and an expected verdict
For his part, the accused BN firmly maintains his innocence. He claims that his only interaction with Mb.G. was professional in providing her number when needed. “I never went into his room. I always stood at the doorstep,” he said on the stand.
His lawyer argued for acquittal, arguing that in the absence of conclusive physical evidence and with a non-incriminating medical certificate, the accusation was based more on supposition than on established facts.
A humanitarian scandal with lasting repercussions
Beyond this individual case, this affair highlights the fragility of the assistance system put in place during times of crisis. If the role of Red Cross volunteers has been praised in the management of the pandemic, this incident casts a shadow over security protocols and the control of personnel working in such sensitive places.
Pending the deliberation scheduled for January 21, the case remains a painful reminder of the ethical and human challenges encountered during moments of crisis. If BN’s guilt is confirmed, it will be an indelible stain not only for the accused, but also for the institutions associated with this case.
According to L’Observateur, eyes are now on the verdict, which could close a dark page in the management of the pandemic in Senegal, while leaving room for debates on the protection of victims and the presumption of innocence in contexts where evidence remains difficult to establish.
