Allada: Recently pardoned man arrested for attempted motorcycle theft

A 30-year-old man, identified as Constant A., was arrested in the Gbégamey neighborhood of Allada during the night of August 21–22 for an attempted motorcycle theft. The suspect, who had recently been released from prison under a presidential pardon, allegedly attempted to steal a Haoujue 115 motorcycle with the help of accomplices.

The attempt failed after local residents spotted the group. A crowd gathered and attempted to administer vigilante justice, but police officers dispatched by Commissioner Faridath Adam intervened to rescue the suspect from the crowd. Constant A. is a repeat offender previously convicted of aggravated theft.

This incident marks the second case in less than a month involving a recently pardoned individual. Earlier in August, another beneficiary of the presidential clemency was arrested in Hêvié for an attempted theft of a drilling pump. The recent pardons were part of a decree signed by President Romuald Wadagni to mark Benin's 66th independence anniversary, granting clemency to 369 detainees.