Guinea: Bella Bah sentenced to six months in prison, five of which are suspended.

The court also imposed a fine of 40 million Guinean francs and ordered the deletion of the Facebook account registered under the name “Bella Bah.” These sanctions were reported in the judgment by several Guinean media present at the trial.

The proceedings followed a post shared on social media linked to the chief imam of the Grande Mosquée Fayçal of Conakry, Elhadj Mamadou Saliou Camara. During the hearing, Bella Bah acknowledged using certain terms but contested having directly referred to the religious leader.

The prosecution had requested a year of firm imprisonment. The defense asked for an acquittal and, failing that, for significant mitigating circumstances, especially highlighting that the imam had not filed a civil complaint and had publicly called for leniency.

A public apology before the trial

Elhadj Mamadou Saliou Camara declared on August 11 that he had forgiven Bella Bah and urged the authorities to release him. This statement did not halt the proceedings, as the public prosecutor maintained the action before the criminal court.

According to hearing reports, Bella Bah presented himself as an entrepreneur, school founder, and an advocate engaged with youth. In his final words, he expressed regrets and assured that he would not repeat the acts he was accused of.

Several Guinean media outlets reported his arrest at his school on August 8. He was later placed in custody and taken to the central prison of Conakry on August 13, before the opening of his trial on August 17.

The judgment rendered two days later found him guilty of both charges. In addition to the prison sentence, the court upheld the fine of 40 million Guinean francs and the deletion of the Facebook account targeted by the proceedings.