Court finds Daniel A. guilty

Daniel A. was found guilty by the court for acts committed on March 21, 2026, during Ramadan. The court imposed a three-year ban on contact with the victim and a ten-year ban on entering French territory. The defendant was sentenced to 10 months in prison, two months more than the sentence requested by the prosecutor.

Daniel A. disputes the allegations

Daniel A. disputes the facts attributed to him. In court, he stated he entered the girl's room to wake her and ask for food, as he was returning from work and felt unwell after fasting. He claimed he then asked her where the peanuts were that she had eaten earlier before leaving the room.

Victim describes the incident

The victim, who was 17 years old at the time of the incident, testified that the man entered her room multiple times during the night while she was on the phone with her boyfriend, as was her usual practice each evening to fall asleep. Initially, she thought her aunt was checking if she was asleep, before realizing it was another person.

Victim recounts the assault

While she was asleep in a dress, she felt a hand moving up her clothing. The man allegedly tried to kiss her and unfasten her pants to force sexual intercourse. According to her testimony, he told her to be quiet, saying it would only last "two minutes." She attempted to scream to alert her aunt but was unsuccessful.

Court questions Daniel A.'s account

The court president questioned Daniel A.'s explanation, particularly the fact that he admits to entering the room around one o'clock in the morning with his phone flashlight on, while the girl was supposed to be asleep. The president remarked, "You have shame about helping yourself to food, but entering the girl's room while she is asleep, no problem," and asked him why he addressed her when her aunt was present in the residence.

Daniel A. defends his actions

Daniel A. replied that he did not know the aunt and had seen her for the first time. "The door to the room was open, so I just went to her room," he said. He also claimed that the aunt did not see him leave the room, adding that he had explained to her that he had passed by.

Prosecutor rejects Daniel A.'s story

The prosecutor does not believe Daniel A.'s version, stating, "a story centered around peanuts, I do not believe this story at all." The prosecutor believes the girl's account is consistent with the fact that she directly told her aunt what had happened, who found her panicked.

Daniel A.'s personal situation

Daniel A., a mason, described himself as an honest and hardworking man who must support his children. "I have a child who is 18 years old, I have children I need to take care of, I need to feed them," he stated in court. Arriving in Mayotte in 2021, the accused is in an irregular situation and has been under judicial supervision since June 15.

Court rejects appeals for leniency

After deliberation, the court found Daniel A. guilty of the facts attributed to him, sentencing him to 10 months in prison without any leniency. The jurisdiction also imposed a three-year ban on contact with the victim and a ten-year ban on entering French territory. He now has ten days to appeal this decision.