Tuesday at the Dakar Court the verdict in the case involving the Senegalese music diva Fatou Guewel, Mapenda Seck and Mbaye Gueye ‘Petit la’ was handed down.

Fatou Guewel has been found guilty of bigamy. As a result she was ordered to pay a fine of D5, 000. The court did not stop there and has asked Fatou Guewel to pay to her legal husband, ‘petit la’, D50, 000.

The adultery charge has been dropped and also the request of Mapenda Seck for compensation, treating as abusive the procedure of ’petit la’.

The judge has concluded that the fact that an official divorce has never been declared by ‘Petit la’ means that Mapenda and Fatou Guewel cannot seal a union.

A separation is imposed until another procedure is imposed to annul ‘Petit la’ and Fatou’s union.

The defendants have made known their displeasure at the judgement and have indicated their intention to appeal as soon as they meet their client who was not at the court.