(CEMESP/IFEX) – On 21 November 2006, officers of the Liberia National Police temporarily seized the camera of reporter Daylue Goah of the “New Democrat” newspaper. The police officers threatened to attack the reporter for taking the pictures of a tax collection scene on Capitol By-Pass in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia. A Ministry of Finance tax collector, […]
(CEMESP/IFEX) – On 21 November 2006, officers of the Liberia National Police temporarily seized the camera of reporter Daylue Goah of the “New Democrat” newspaper.
The police officers threatened to attack the reporter for taking the pictures of a tax collection scene on Capitol By-Pass in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia.
A Ministry of Finance tax collector, who claimed to be in charge of the operation, ordered the reporter handcuffed for taking pictures, but none of the policemen present had handcuffs with them.
The tax collector, who refused to disclose his identity, asked why a reporter would take pictures without authorization.
A report in the “New Democrat” said the police officer further threatened the reporter with violence if anything were written about the encounter.
Goah was later rescued by Deputy Police Commander Amos Nyenator. The commander apologized to the journalist and his camera was returned to him undamaged.
