Ouagadougou court acquits street vendor accused of using counterfeit currency

A 19-year-old street vendor, identified by the initials A. O., has been acquitted by the Ouaga I High Court in Ouagadougou after being accused of using a counterfeit 10,000 CFA franc note.

The incident occurred when the vendor attempted to purchase a jersey from another merchant, S. A., for 2,500 CFA francs. Upon discovering the note was a forgery, the merchant alerted nearby police, leading to the young man's arrest and detention at the Ouagadougou House of Arrest and Correction (MACO).

During the trial, the merchant testified to the defendant's innocence, stating that A. O. had likely been deceived by a previous customer. The prosecutor of Faso also recommended acquittal, noting the difficulty in proving the defendant used the banknote with knowledge of its counterfeit nature. The court subsequently ruled to release the vendor.