2 April 2009

Alert

Two "Le Répère" newspaper journalists convicted of insulting president


Incident details

Nanankoua Gnamantéh, Eddy Péhé

journalist(s)

sentenced
(MFWA/IFEX) - On 31 March 2009, reporter Nanankoua Gnamantéh and managing editor Eddy Péhé of pro-opposition weekly "Le Répère" were convicted of "insulting" Ivorian President Laurent Gbabgo and ordered to pay fines of 20 million FCFA (approx. US$ 40,000).

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)'s correspondent reported that the Plateau Magistrate Court in Abidjan, presided over by Koné Assata, additionally suspended "Le Répère" for two months and also ordered the newspaper to retract the offending article and render an apology in the state-owned "Le Matin" newspaper or, in default, pay an additional five million FCFA (approx. US$ 10,000).

Nanankoua was arrested and detained at the Abidjan civil prison on 19 March, following an allegation he made in "Le Répère" on 6 March linking President Gbagbo and some of his party officials to acts of corruption. He was, however, released on 1 April.

On 24 March, the state prosecutor requested the court to jail Nanankoua, suspend the newspaper and fine the two for the offence.

Meanwhile lawyers for the two journalists have expressed their intention to appeal the court's judgment.

Updates the "Le Répère" case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/102017



Source:

Media Foundation for West Africa
PO Box LG 730
30 Duade Street, Kokomlemle
Legon, Accra
Ghana
alerts (@) mediafound.org
Phone: +233 302 242470
Fax: +233 302 221084
 

Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


More on this case

"Le Répère" reporter faces prison sentence and fine if found guilty of criminal defamation; managing editor faces fine and newspaper suspension 31 March 2009 Journalists Eddy Péhé, Nanankona Gnamantéh arrested following publication of article linking president to corruption 20 March 2009

Côte d'Ivoire

Two detained journalists released 3 February 2012 Newspaper editor arrested for publishing "confidential information" 1 February 2012 Human remains found not to be those of missing journalist 13 January 2012 Human remains found could be those of missing journalist Guy-André Kieffer 9 January 2012 TV presenter provisionally released after being held for five months 2 January 2012 See all alerts: Côte d'Ivoire


 
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) is a global network of 95 organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.