18 April 2008

Alert

Detained freelance journalist, allegedly facing charges for "malicious damage to property," requires medical attention


Incident details

Frank Chikowore

journalist(s)

detained
(MISA/IFEX) - Detained freelance journalist Frank Chikowore's lawyer, Harrison Nkomo, has filed an urgent High Court application compelling the police to take Chikowore to hospital as he is complaining of abdominal and chest pains.

The application also compelled the police to have Chikowore appear before a Magistrate on 17 April 2008, as the 48-hour period within which a person arrested by the police should appear before a Magistrate court, as stipulated under Zimbabwean laws, has elapsed.

Chikowore, who was gathering news on the fateful day, was arrested on 15 April together with supporters of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). He and the MDC supporters are said to be facing charges of malicious damage to property for allegedly torching a bus belonging to Nyamwenda Bus Company in Warren Park.

According to Chikowore's lawyer, who was hired by MISA-Zimbabwe under its Media Defence Fund (MDF), the police initially wanted to charge Chikowore under the draconian Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act (AIPPA) but later discovered that he is an accredited journalist and that there was no offensive material on his laptop.



Source:

Media Institute of Southern Africa
21 Johann Albrecht Street
Private Bag 13386
Windhoek
Namibia
director (@) misa.org
Phone: +264 61 232975
Fax: +264 61 248016
 

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Updates to this story

Freelance journalist relieved of requirement to report to courts, police, but still facing charges of inciting violence 21 July 2008 Freelance journalist Frank Chikowore released on bail, still faces charges 8 May 2008 Detained freelancer Frank Chikowore denied bail and medical care; his lawyer insists he was not involved in 15 April strike and rioting 24 April 2008

More on this case

MDC's information director arrested, charged; student journalist fined before release; MISA condemns discriminatory treatment of detained journalist 23 April 2008 Detained journalist Frank Chikowore charged, denied treatment; freelancer Stanley Karombo released after incommunicado detention 22 April 2008 Accredited journalist arrested, his house searched and materials seized 15 April 2008

Zimbabwe

Foreign newspapers to be banned 6 February 2012 Charges against MMPZ staffers reduced 26 January 2012 Detained MMPZ staff freed on bail; journalist questioned 22 December 2011 Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe personnel denied freedom 13 December 2011 Unlawful detention and harassment of Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe personnel 7 December 2011 See all alerts: Zimbabwe


 
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