Bougouriba: The Diebougou High Court is currently handling a case involving a man accused of stealing fish and causing damage to a floating hut on Bapla Lake. The prosecution has recommended community service as a penalty, with the court's decision anticipated on March 25.
According to Burkina Information Agency, during the hearing, it was revealed that on the night of October 27-28, 2025, the defendant allegedly entered the Bapla water area, using a knife to tear the net of a floating fish tank owned by SCOOPS Bafudji. This structure, funded through public investment, contained thousands of fish that had recently undergone stress-reduction treatment. Following technical service guidelines, a 72-hour waiting period was mandatory before consumption to ensure public health safety. The defendant's actions reportedly led to a breach in the equipment, resulting in the loss and theft of some fish.
In court, the defendant, identified as SK, confessed to the actions but claimed ignorance of the fish being under treatment. SK detailed that he entered the water at night, tore the net, and scattered food to attract the fish before netting them. He caught 19 kilograms of fish, selling 8 kilograms to two villagers at 1,250 FCFA per kilogram before being apprehended.
The Faso prosecutor at Diebougou's High Court highlighted the significant impact of the damages, noting that developing the Bapla water body involved over 163 million FCFA in investments by the State and local communities to combat hunger and promote food self-sufficiency.
The prosecution requested SK's acquittal on charges of endangering life due to reasonable doubt but urged the court to convict him of intentional property damage and aggravated theft. For these offenses, a sentence of 320 hours of community service was proposed, to be executed for the provincial directorate responsible for Agriculture and Fisheries resources in Bougouriba.
Additionally, the prosecutor mentioned that SK had previously been cautioned by the Laabal brigade regarding his conduct, and he had acknowledged his mistakes, seeking forgiveness from Burkina Faso's citizens. SK had also spent several days in the Diebougou Detention and Correction Center.
The court has postponed the case for deliberation, with the verdict expected on March 25, 2026.