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Alert

Editor, two reporters of newspaper arrested, charged with criminal libel

(MISA/IFEX) - On 8 May 2006, the editor and two reporters of "The Chronicle" weekly newspaper were arrested and charged with criminal libel, following an article published in the newspaper that alleged that the Attorney General, Ralph Kasambara, was involved in the sale of a stolen laptop computer.

Police acted on a warrant of arrest following a complaint from Kasambara. Reporter Arnold Mlelemba was handcuffed in "The Chronicle" newsroom early in the morning and taken to Central Region Police Headquarters for questioning. Editor Rob Jamieson and journalist Dickson Kashoti presented themselves later in the day in response to a summons. They all remain in custody and are expected to appear in court at 9:00 a.m. (local time) on 9 May.

Jamieson declared in his statement to the police that, in its May 1 - 7 edition, his newspaper published an article alleging that MISA-Malawi National Director Charles Simango was in possession of a laptop computer that had been stolen from journalist Eldson Chagara. The article further alleged that Simango received the laptop from his close friend, Kasambara, who had instructed him to sell it.

Meanwhile, Simango told MISA-Malawi that he had written to "The Chronicle" demanding a correction of the article, to exonerate Kasambara. "The Chronicle" carried Simango's demand in its May 8 - 14 edition.

The National Governing Council of MISA-Malawi has since suspended Simango from his duties to allow for a comprehensive investigation of the incident.

The incident follows weeks of speculation in the national news media.