FORMER FRENCH SOLDIER INSULTS SENEGAL'S PRESIDENT IN FRONT OF GENDARME & FACES TRAIL, REPIRSTS SAY. (PHOTO).

 Former French Soldier Insults Senegal's President in Front of Gendarme & Faces Trial, Reports Say

Retired French serviceman Ripert Patrice, aged 73 severely insulted Faye in front of a policeman during a heated discussion about the Senegalese president's decision to withdraw French military troops from the country, local media said, Sputnik reported.

The incident took place in the Ouakam district of the capital Dakar at a money exchange point. The Frenchman went on trial Wednesday on charges of insulting the head of state at the court of serious crimes in Dakar. According to the witness, Patrice used foul language to say the president was an unstable man and mentally ill who has no counselor.

The old man reportedly added that Senegal is a "cursed" country.

"I was very upset by these insults. I asked him why he had insulted the President in my presence. I told him I was going to call the police, but he asked me not to. Nevertheless, I called the gendarmes, and they arrested him," the policeman, who witnessed the incident, recalled.

In court, Patrice denied these facts, media noted. He admitted only that he said the president was "talking nonsense" when he said he was going to send French soldiers home.

But he also reportedly claimed that he had already apologized. Or even that he had no reason to make such remarks.

"I was born in Senegal. I lived and grew up here," he emphasized.

At the end of the trial, the Court of Serious Crimes in Dakar acquitted him beyond all the reasonable doubts.