CAMEROON: Editor of weekly sentenced to five years' imprisonment
In a letter to Justice Minister Amadou Ali, RSF asked for clarification following the sentencing of Georges Baongla, publication director of the weekly "Le Démenti", to five years' imprisonment. "Due process was seemingly not respected in this case.
ALERT - CAMEROON
17 January 2002
Editor of weekly sentenced to five years' imprisonment
SOURCE: Reporters sans frontières (RSF), Paris
(RSF/IFEX) - In a letter to Justice Minister Amadou Ali, RSF asked for
clarification following the sentencing of Georges Baongla, publication
director of the weekly "Le Démenti", to five years' imprisonment. "Due
process was seemingly not respected in this case. Firstly, Georges Baongla
was not warned of his trial's opening in October 2001. Secondly, he only
learned of his sentencing several days after the delivery of the verdict.
Thirdly, why did the authorities allow him to remain free for over two
months before arresting him in early January? These irregularities lead us t
o question the real motive behind the journalist's sentencing," explained
RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. "Without judging the merits of the case
itself, we call on the Cameroonian authorities to explain the situation,"
the secretary-general added.
According to information collected by RSF, police officers arrested Baongla
at his home on 9 January 2002. Two days later, he appeared before a judge
and was jailed at the Nkondengui central prison in Yaoundé. The police
officers also seized the newspaper's computers. In October, the journalist
was sentenced in absentia to five years' imprisonment and a fine of 17
million CFA francs (approx. US$22,800; 26,000 euros) for "fraud". He is
accused of extorting ten million CFA francs (approx. US$13,400; 15,200
euros) from an official at the Ministry of the Economy and Finances. "Le
Démenti"'s editorial staff claim that the "accusations are groundless and
were fabricated by the government." They follow the newspaper's publication
of several articles denouncing the misappropriation of funds by the minister
of the economy and finances. "Le Démenti" has repeatedly accused the
minister of embezzling public monies during the installation of a sewer
system in the country.
For further information, contact Jean-François Julliard at RSF, rue Geoffroy
Marie, Paris 75009, France, tel: +33 1 44 83 84 84, fax: +33 1 45 23 11 51,
e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.rsf.fr
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of RSF.
In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit RSF.
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