CONGOLESE JOURNALIST GOES ON TRIAL REGARDING JEUNE AFRIQUE ARTICLE

Date:

KINSHASA, (REUTERS) – A Congolese journalist appeared in court on Friday on charges of spreading false rumours about the killing of a prominent opposition politician, according to his lawyer and court records seen by Reuters.

Stanis Bujakera, who also contributes to Reuters, has been in detention since Sept. 8 in connection with an article published by French news magazine Jeune Afrique about the circumstances of the death of Cherubin Okende, a former transport minister whose body was found in Kinshasa on July 13.

On Friday, he was brought before a judge for the first time, and charges were read out to him, his lawyer, Charles Mushizi, told Reuters.

The charges include that he “knowingly spread false rumours with the intent to alarm, worry or incite the population against established authorities,” according to a court document dated Oct. 3. He is also accused of transmitting unlawful messages, forgery and counterfeiting state seals or symbols, the document says.

Bujakera was not asked to enter a plea to the charges, which he denies, Mushizi said. The judge adjourned the trial until Oct. 20 following a request from Bujakera’s lawyers for time to prepare his defence. The reporter could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted on all charges, Mushizi said.

The accusations relate to an article published on Jeune Afrique’s website on Aug. 31 that said an internal report by the National Intelligence Agency (ANR) had accused military intelligence agents of possible involvement in Okende’s killing, the magazine said in September.

The Congolese authorities dispute the authenticity of the report, Jeune Afrique said on its web site. It said further that the article in question did not carry Bujakera’s name, and he could not be held responsible for its content.

“We can only regret this worrying development in the proceedings targeting our correspondent Stanis Bujakera, who is being prosecuted for an article of which he is not the signatory,” Jeune Afrique’s managing editor, Francois Soudan, said of the trial.

Democratic Republic of Congo’s communications minister, Patrick Muyaya, and spokespeople for the police and state prosecutor’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday.

Congo’s President Felix Tshisekedi told journalists in September that he was “a great supporter of press freedom”, but it would not be appropriate for him to comment on the case or intervene in a judicial matter. Muyaya has also previously declined to comment on similar grounds.

Local and international rights groups have expressed concern about Bujakera’s detention, calling it an attack on press freedom.

“Reuters opposes the detention of journalist Stanis Bujakera in Congo and calls for his immediate release. Journalists must be free to report the news in the public interest without harassment or harm, wherever they are,” a Reuters spokesperson said.

Bujakera’s lawyers have submitted an appeal for the journalist’s provisional release, Mushizi said. The judge is expected to issue a ruling next week.

smartnews
Smart News Liberia is an online news outlet, a product of Smart Media Group Inc. smartnewsliberia.com publishes a wide range of content including politics, business, sports, and entertainment on and about Liberia. Contact: +231777425285/ 886946925 Email: info@smartnewsliberia.com/ smartnewsliberia@gmail.com

MORE NEWS

PUL EX-LEADERS PUSH FOR TRAVEL BAN TO BE IMPOSED ON OFFICIALS OF WEAH’S GOV’T

Two ex-leaders of the journalists’ umbrella organization, Press Union...

US TREASURY SANCTIONS PEOPLE IN 9 COUNTRIES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES

The U.S. Treasury's ’s Office of Foreign Assets Control...

LIBERIA: CSO COUNCIL DEMANDS IMPARTIAL INVESTIGATION INTO DEATH OF JOSHUA SOLOMON

MONROVIA – The National Civil Society Council of Liberia...

LIBERIA: GGAA SADDENS OVER THE DEATH OF REP. EROL MADISON GWION

The Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas (GGAA) is...

PRESIDENT WEAH DISMISSES TWO COMMERCE MINISTRY OFFICIALS

MONROVIA – President George Manneh Weah has with immediate...

ECOWAS COURT DELIVERS JUDGEMENT ON VIOLATION OF LIBERIAN PARTY’S RIGHTS

By Maina Maina The ECOWAS Court of Justice has delivered a...

ALJA COMMENDS LIBERIANS ON THE SUCCESSFUL AND PEACEFUL CONCLUSION OF PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

The Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA)...

FORMER NIC CHAIRMAN PAYGAI CONGRATULATES BOAKAI

MONROVIA – Dr. Q. Somah Paygai Sr., former Chairman...

LIBERIA: CDC SECRETARY GENERAL RALLIES PARTISANS TO AVOID ANTI-PEACE ACTIONS AFTER ELECTION

MONROVIA – The Secretary General of Liberia’s ruling party,...

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

SPEECH

LEGAL

spot_imgspot_img

COUNTY NEWS

COMMENTARY
COMMENTARY

Share via
Copy link
%d