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Alert

Editor jailed for investigating corruption

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has condemned the 6 July 2005 detention of Joseph Bessala Ahanda, editor-in-chief of the weekly "Le Front", and accused the authorities of arresting him for investigation corruption. "We support the committee formed to press for Ahanda's release and call on Prosecutor Abena Protais to free him at once," the organisation said.

Police officers from Yaoundé's Seventh District Police Station arrested Ahanda on the morning of 6 July. He was brought before the prosecutor at 11:00 a.m. (local time) and transferred to Kodengui Prison at 5 p.m. The journalist is being held pending a court appearance for which no date has been set.

Ahanda has been placed under judicial investigation and, according to William Mandio of "Le Front", who heads his support committee, he may spend several months in prison before appearing in court.

Ahanda published three reports about the alleged embezzlement of 300 million CFA francs (approx. US$546,000; 457,000 euros) by Maurice Bayémi, head of the Cameroon postal services (Campost), and his associate Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, owner of the Anecdote Press Group. The reports led to Bayémi's dismissal.

In May, Ahanda was abducted and beaten by individuals allegedly working for Belinga. He subsequently filed a complaint, including a doctor's report on his injuries, but the authorities took no action. His support committee, which consists of several newspaper editors, intends to press for his release at a meeting with the prime minister next week.