SHARE
COPY LINK

CRIME

Burundi court jails Frenchman 25 years for rape

A court in Burundi on Monday found a Frenchman guilty of raping five teenagers, giving him a 25-year jail sentence and a fine of €14,000 ($20,000).

Patrice Faye, 58, was accused of raping five girls aged 13 to 17 — students at a school he set up for poor children. He denied the charges.

Supreme Court spokesman Elie Ntungwanayo said Faye, a long-time resident, could appeal the sentence.

The trial had been held behind closed doors since June 16. Prosecutors had sought a 35-year prison term.

Faye was arrested in early April and was detained in a prison in central Bujumbura following accusations by the girls.

In a letter addressed to AFP in May, Faye said a doctor had confirmed that three of his accusers were still virgins.

“My client is very shocked. This is someone who has spent 35 years of his life in Burundi doing good things and he is being convicted because of young girls who want to extort money,” his lawyer Fabien Segatwa said.

“Patrice Faye did nothing. He still maintains his innocence,” said the lawyer, adding: “It is a death sentence given his age.”

Member comments

Log in here to leave a comment.
Become a Member to leave a comment.

CRIME

France launches major anti-drug raids

French authorities launched Monday several new anti-drug raids across the country dubbed "XXL cleanup operations", Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said.

France launches major anti-drug raids

President Emmanuel Macron last Tuesday launched a major operation against the narcotics trade in Marseille and other French cities, saying that gangland battles that last year left dozens dead had made life a misery for residents.

“In Marseille and other cities in France, we have launched an unprecedented operation to put a stop to drug trafficking and ensure republican order,” Macron had written on X, formerly Twitter.

He said that operations would be launched in about 10 French cities, adding that it would be an “XXL” cleanup.

According to local authorities, 900 police and custom officers were deployed in Marseille and the Bouches-du-Rhone region on the first day the operation.

In the first three days, 22 kilogrammes of drugs, over €385,000 and four weapons were seized and 71 people placed in custody.

SHOW COMMENTS