21 April 2006

Alert

A weekly editor released after 72 hours of incarceration


Incident details

Arthur Tshimanga Kaputu

editor(s)

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(JED/IFEX) - The Kinshasa-based weekly "Lubilanji Expansion" managing director, Mr Arthur Tshimanga Kaputu was released on 21 April 2006 after 72 hours of incarceration. Kaputu was released after the arrest on 20 April in late afternoon of Mr Kazadi Kasumpata, the real author of the article in question.

According to the Magistrate overseeing the case, Tshimanga was put in custody because, as a citizen, he was charged with defamatory allegations against the "l'Université Protestante" (UPC) in his newspaper.

BACKGROUND

On Tuesday 18 April, ARTHUR TSHIMANGA KAPUTU was incarcerated in a Kinshasa/Gombe Great Instance Court (GIC) jail, following a complaint made by the (L'Université Protestante). In its n° 188 edition (07 to 14 March), the paper had published in headlines an article entitled, "Scandale à l'Université Protestante du Congo", in which the author accused the university of embezzlement and donations mismanagement The journalist was questioned with statement by the magistrate, Edmond Isofa Ipanga on the note published in n° 190 edition (07 to 14 April). The latter had been a reaction to the UPC rectification reply to Kaputu's.



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Updates to this story

Journalist released after spending 75 days in prison 10 July 2006 State prosecutor fails to execute order for journalist's release 27 June 2006 Journalist sentenced to four months in prison and payment of US$5,000 in damages 23 June 2006 Arrested journalist transferred to state penitentiary 26 April 2006

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