The Natitingou court sentenced three police officers to prison for their involvement in assaulting a motorcyclist during a helmet check. In a video, they are seen maltreating the motorcyclist on the ground. The image shocked Benin, and public opinion also disapproved of the charges against the individual who captured the incident on video. The verdict was eagerly anticipated.
The three convicted officers are from the surveillance and support unit in Natitingou, located northwest of Cotonou. They have all been sentenced to six months in prison and ordered to pay a fine to the victim they assaulted on April 11th.
As soon as the verdict was delivered, it made headlines and flooded social media, given the high anticipation surrounding it.
However, public opinion is especially pleased with the acquittal of the individual who recorded the incident. He is a carpenter, and his temporary detention had caused considerable displeasure and sparked protests around the Natitingou court. “Everything has returned to normal,” a resident said.
Just before the trial, the government halved the fine for not wearing a helmet, reducing it from 10,000 to 5,000 CFA francs.
On April 17th, the police hierarchy announced the punishment of three officers in Cotonou. A hotline has been established to report misconduct and abuses that contribute to tensions in the country.