The trial of Florence Kingbo was postponed to 1 December 2026 due to a dispute over medical expenses. During the proceedings, defense lawyer Me Aboubacar Baparapé stated, "C’est de la bouche du ministère public que j’apprends que les frais de scanner sont à la charge des parents de Florence Kingbo."
Florence Kingbo responded to the court regarding the financial demand, saying, "Vous avez dit que c’est nous qui allons payer les frais, nous n’avons pas les moyens." The delay in the case follows these disagreements regarding the responsibility for medical costs in Bénin, as reported by La Nouvelle Tribune. Court officials have not yet addressed the concerns raised by the defense regarding the payment requirements for the necessary medical examinations. This postponement to December 1, 2026, reflects the ongoing impasse regarding the administrative and financial hurdles currently affecting the judicial timeline.
Background of Psychiatric Evaluation
The CRIET ordered a psychiatric evaluation for Florence Kingbo on 24 March 2026. Legal officials initially expected the psychiatric report to be completed by the end of May 2026. This original deadline was set to ensure the timely progression of the legal proceedings involving the accused.
During the hearing held on 2 June 2026, the court noted that the psychiatric evaluation had not been performed. The process remained incomplete as of that date, despite the earlier timeline established by the court. The lack of progress on this mandatory assessment has directly impacted the ability of the court to move forward with the trial as originally scheduled.
Dispute Over Medical Expenses
The court informed the parties that the psychiatric expert requires a scanner examination to complete the requested report on Florence Kingbo. Officials at the CRIET indicated that the costs for this scanner examination must be covered by the parents of the accused. This specific requirement for the scanner examination is a prerequisite for the expert to finalize the psychiatric report.
These payment requirements emerged as a point of contention during the legal proceedings regarding the psychiatric evaluation ordered on 24 March 2026. Because the examination remains necessary for the completion of the court-mandated report, the financial responsibility for the medical procedure has become a central issue delaying the trial. Court officials have provided no further clarification on the funding source for the psychiatric assessment following the objections raised by the defense. The court’s insistence that the parents of the accused must bear the financial burden for the scanner examination remains the primary obstacle preventing the completion of the psychiatric report, which was originally expected by the end of May 2026. Consequently, the case remains suspended until the medical documentation can be finalized.
