**Updates IFEX alerts of 14, 13 and 10 December, 19 October, 30 July and 26 March 1999 and 8 December 1998** (JED/IFEX) – On Thursday 30 December 1999 at 12:10 p.m. (local time), the Court of Military Order (COM) acquitted journalist Joseph Mbakulu Pambu Diana. Under the direction of Judge Edouard Phongo Bokako, the COM […]
**Updates IFEX alerts of 14, 13 and 10 December, 19 October, 30 July and 26 March 1999 and 8 December 1998**
(JED/IFEX) – On Thursday 30 December 1999 at 12:10 p.m. (local time), the Court of Military Order (COM) acquitted journalist Joseph Mbakulu Pambu Diana.
Under the direction of Judge Edouard Phongo Bokako, the COM stated that “the charge of ‘spreading false news’ weighing against the defendent Mbakulu has not been established, in either fact or law.” Immediately after the decision was rendered, a newly-free Mbakulu removed his yellow and gold coloured prisoner’s uniform and left in his brother’s automobile.
The journalist was arrested on 24 October 1998 and locked up at Kinshasa’s Penitentiary and Reeducation Centre (Centre pénitentiaire et de rééducation de Kinshasa, CPRK), the former Matadi Central Prison, in connection with the taking of Matadi by rebels in late 1998.
