B. Keita, aged 45 but looking more like he was in his sixties, appeared before the criminal chamber of the Mbour High Court on charges of attempted rape. The incident occurred in Joal during a power outage; the accused targeted a seven-year-old girl.

Had it not been for the vigilance of her family, S. Traoré would have suffered the most horrific tragedy of her life. Taking advantage of a power outage, he lifted S. Traoré and forced her onto the bed. He removed her skirt, caressing her private parts before he committed the act; the little girl's mother entered the room.

He will be reported by Mr. Dieng to the gendarmes of Joal, then prosecuted for attempted rape and pedophilia.

In court, the defense lawyer described his client as a person not fully in control of his mental faculties.

"Looking at him, I see someone who is not in his right mind. We ask for clemency," pleads Mr. Oumar Sene.

Before the judges, the accused expressed regret, stating that he did not understand what had driven him to act in such a way. He apologized, asking for the court's leniency.

During the hearing, the accused always had his head bowed.

He claims that the seven-year-old girl lifted her skirt and asked him to touch her. The accused admits to touching the girl's genitals and claims it was the work of the Devil.

"Dama diakhasso wonn. I was not in control of my actions. I just put my hand on her thigh," the accused stated.

According to the deputy prosecutor, there are people who only have eyes for little girls.

He urged the judges of the criminal chamber to be "unrelenting" in the face of such people.

"Since the incident, we see that the little girl still harbors fear towards her attacker. She doesn't even dare to look at him," argued the prosecution before requesting a 10-year prison sentence.

The case has been adjourned for deliberation. The court will deliver its judgment on May 15th.