Gambiaj.com – (DAKAR, Senegal) – The sprawling criminal investigation involving alleged deliberate HIV transmission has plunged Senegal’s judiciary into a complex legal and public health dilemma, as some of the country’s most recognizable media and entertainment figures find themselves at the center of an unprecedented scandal.
At the heart of the case are Pape Cheikh Diallo, a popular television presenter with the private broadcaster TFM, and Djiby Dramé, a famous musician artist, who are among 12 suspects currently in custody following a gendarmerie probe into an alleged network accused of knowingly spreading HIV through clandestine sexual encounters.
Allegations of Knowing Transmission
According to investigators, the case first gained traction with the arrest of Pape Salif Tall Thiam, a 21-year-old electrician, described by authorities as the first suspect detained and as being HIV-positive.
During questioning, he allegedly told gendarmes that he had knowingly infected around ten men, many of whom he reportedly met through WhatsApp groups and online dating platforms.
A seized iPhone 11, now central to the investigation, is said by security sources to contain evidence of multiple closed groups allegedly used to organize encounters. Investigators say the device could lead to further arrests, pending authorization from a judicial delegation.
Pape Cheikh Diallo, Djiby Dramé, and Confessions
Among those named by investigators are Pape Cheikh Diallo and renowned singer Djibril “Djiby” Dramé, both identified by authorities as being HIV-positive.
According to the case file, eight of the twelve suspects are alleged to be carriers of the virus, with investigators claiming that repeated unprotected relations may have resulted in infections affecting an unknown number of men and women.
Officials say several of the suspects are married or previously married and have children, raising broader concerns about secondary transmission beyond the immediate circle under investigation.
During questioning, Pape Cheikh Diallo reportedly made emotional statements to gendarmes, expressing an inability to control his behavior. “Seytané leu, meunoumassi dara. The urge is stronger than me…,” the case file reports.
Investigators also revisited a 2019 complaint filed by a man identified as Cheikh Diop, who had accused the TV presenter of infecting him with HIV, alleging a breach of a prior agreement regarding protection. That earlier case did not result in prosecution but is now being re-examined.
Intertwined Relationships
The investigation has also laid bare a web of overlapping relationships. Singer Djibril Dramé reportedly told investigators that he is in a relationship with Mamadou Gningue, while also acknowledging a shared relationship with Doudou Lamine Dieng, a banking agent who himself admitted to having been involved with Pape Cheikh Diallo, with the TV star being his “Oubi” (woman) and him being his “Yoss” (man).
All twelve suspects, ranging from students and traders to healthcare and banking professionals, are said by investigators to have made confessions, though their legal teams have not publicly commented on the circumstances under which those statements were obtained.
A Judiciary Caught Between Law and Health
The public prosecutor is now considering opening a formal judicial inquiry to deepen investigations and, crucially, to determine how to manage the medical treatment of those in custody.
Legal experts say the case exposes a profound dilemma: how to prosecute alleged intentional transmission of HIV while ensuring access to treatment and preventing further spread of the virus within detention facilities.
“This is not only a criminal matter but a public health emergency,” a judicial source said, noting the risks posed by overcrowded prisons and the need for immediate medical protocols.
A Wider Scandal
The scandal has resonated beyond this single case. Over the same weekend, authorities confirmed the arrest of 14 additional individuals in a separate investigation involving alleged intentional HIV transmission, including a French national detained in France, underscoring what officials describe as a growing and alarming trend.
As investigations continue, the case involving Pape Cheikh Diallo and other prominent figures is rapidly becoming one of the most sensitive judicial files in recent Senegalese history, forcing courts, health authorities, and society at large to confront the intersection of criminal law, stigma, celebrity, and public health.
