(JED/IFEX) – Olivier Komfie Mabwava, Bandundu correspondent for the Kinshasa-based Digital Congo FM radio station, was placed under pre-trial arrest on 12 July 2006 at about 4:30 p.m. (local time), in the Bandundu High Court prison, by the public prosecutor, Kapuba Tshikoyoyo. During his 6 July morning news programme, Mabwava reportedly accused Bandundu Province’s governor, […]
(JED/IFEX) – Olivier Komfie Mabwava, Bandundu correspondent for the Kinshasa-based Digital Congo FM radio station, was placed under pre-trial arrest on 12 July 2006 at about 4:30 p.m. (local time), in the Bandundu High Court prison, by the public prosecutor, Kapuba Tshikoyoyo.
During his 6 July morning news programme, Mabwava reportedly accused Bandundu Province’s governor, Gerard Guy Fuza Ginday, of embezzling funds from Congo’s Central Bank destined to pay the province’s health workers’ wages. Provincial government officials considered the allegations a serious “offence” against the governor.
In the early morning of 12 July, accompanied by his lawyer, Mabwava brought the tape, on which the news programme in question was recorded, to Edo Matungulu, a magistrate at the public prosecutor’s office. After they heard the tape, the journalist was surprised to receive from Matungulu an arrest warrant, signed by the public prosecutor, effective immediately.
The journalist told JED that, during the news programme, he interviewed the president of the Bandundu Physicians’ Union, Doctor Nkieri. The latter accused the governor of blocking the wages of health personnel and urged his partners to organise a sit-in in front of the governor’s office.
Outraged by the statement, the governor ordered the journalist’s arrest. Brought to the governor’s office on the same day, the journalist stated before the public prosecutor that somebody was trying to put Doctor Nkieri’s words in his mouth.
On 14 July, Mabwava was released after paying a fine of 10,000 Congolese francs (approx. US$23), which resulted in legal proceedings against him being dropped.
