Senegal: Appeal court exonerates journalist in 2004 criminal case
A criminal charge of "disturbing public peace and spreading false news" brought against Madiambal Diagne, managing editor of the Quotidien newspaper in 2004 was on July 20, 2009 dismissed by an Appeal court in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
A criminal charge of "disturbing public peace and spreading false news" brought against Madiambal Diagne, managing editor of the Quotidien newspaper in 2004 was on July 20, 2009 dismissed by an Appeal court in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.
Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)'s correspondent reported that Lasana Diabé, the country's state prosecutor on July 13, 2009 filed the appeal, five years after a Dakar Magistrate Court had acquitted and discharged him
because he had no case to answer.
Madiambal, who is also the general administrator of Avenir Communications Group accused President Abdoulaye Wade of manipulating the judiciary in an article headlined: "The good judges Wade does not want to see"
Madiambal was arrested on July 9, 2004 and detained for 17 days. He was released following a campaign mounted by his colleagues as well as local and
international civil society organisations.
MFWA is satisfied with this latest decision which clearly upholds the rule of law and will go a long way to enhance the growth of media freedom in Senegal.
Prof. Kwame Karikari
Executive Director
MFWA
Accra, Ghana
Tel 233-21 242470
Fax 233 -21 221084
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