Thibaut Ogou CRIET Renvoi 10 Septembre: Maintien Détention Confirmé

• Activist Thibaut Ogou remains in detention after his first appearance before the CRIET on August 27, 2026, on charges of attempted fraud.
• The case, involving alleged WhatsApp exchanges with a detainee, has been adjourned until September 10 for the public prosecutor's requisitions.
• Ogou pleaded not guilty to the tentative d’escroquerie allegations and his request for provisional release was denied.
• He has been under a mandat de dépôt since August 14, alongside three other co-defendants.
• Ogou has a prior conviction from 2021 for electoral violence, for which he served 38 months and was released in June 2024.

The court's decision to uphold the mandat de dépôt activiste for all four defendants underscores a firm judicial stance on pre-trial detention in this matter.

Activist Thibaut Ogou remains in custody following his initial court appearance before the Cour de répression des infractions économiques et du terrorisme (CRIET) on Thursday, August 27, 2026. The dossier CRIET 27 août 2026 saw the court postpone proceedings, with the case now set to resume on September 10. Ogou, a prominent activiste, has been held under a mandat de dépôt since August 14, facing charges of alleged tentative d’escroquerie Bénin alongside three other co-defendants.

During the hearing, Ogou vehemently denied the accusations leveled against him, entering a plea of not guilty. Despite his defense, the CRIET opted for Thibaut Ogou maintien détention, confirming the existing detention orders for all four individuals involved in the case. This decision means Ogou will remain incarcerated as the legal process continues, leading up to the next scheduled date for the public prosecutor's requisitions.

The central focus of the court's proceedings revolved around digital communications, specifically procès Thibaut Ogou WhatsApp exchanges between the activist and a detainee. The detainee, who is the alleged victim in the tentative d’escroquerie Bénin case, testified that he had initiated contact with Ogou to report on his conditions of detention. Crucially, the detainee asserted that Thibaut Ogou had never solicited money from him during their interactions.

Ogou, for his part, acknowledged the existence of these digital conversations and admitted to transmitting a screenshot of a separate discussion he had with the Minister of Justice. He explained that his intention in sharing this screenshot was to reassure the detainee that his complaints were being acknowledged and considered by the relevant authorities, not to engage in any fraudulent activity. This testimony forms a critical part of the defense against the tentative d’escroquerie charges.

Following the arguments presented, Thibaut Ogou formally requested a provisional release, citing personal reasons, specifically his need to prepare for his children's upcoming school year. However, this plea for temporary freedom was not met with a favorable response from the Cour de répression des infractions économiques et du terrorisme at this juncture. The court's decision to uphold the mandat de dépôt activiste for all four defendants underscores a firm judicial stance on pre-trial detention in this matter.

The Thibaut Ogou CRIET renvoi 10 septembre signifies that the next phase of the legal process will involve the public prosecutor presenting their formal requisitions. This adjournment allows for further preparation and consideration of the evidence before the court moves towards a more definitive stage in the trial. The rejection of the provisional release request highlights the court's current assessment of the necessity of continued detention.

This is not the first instance of Thibaut Ogou appearing before the Beninese justice system. He has a documented history with legal proceedings, having previously faced charges related to electoral violence. In connection with the 2021 electoral unrest, Ogou was convicted and sentenced to a significant term of 38 months of firm imprisonment. Additionally, he was ordered to pay a fine amounting to 2 million FCFA for contempt of the electoral process.

Ogou completed his sentence for the 2021 conviction and was subsequently released from prison in June 2024. His current detention, therefore, marks a return to the judicial spotlight for the activist, placing his ongoing legal challenges in the context of his past encounters with the law.

Lawyers advising clients in Benin should note the CRIET's continued strict stance on pre-trial detention for activists, even when digital communication evidence is contested, and the court's approach to requests for provisional release. This case highlights the ongoing judicial scrutiny of public figures and the evidentiary weight given to private digital exchanges in criminal proceedings.

Source: Original reporting via Libre Express.