(MFWA/IFEX) – El Malick Seck, managing editor of the “24 Heures Chrono” newspaper, who was sentenced to a three-year prison term for publishing false news, was on 24 April 2009 freed by President Abdoulaye Wade. Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported that Seck was released following a presidential pardon signed the same day. […]
(MFWA/IFEX) – El Malick Seck, managing editor of the “24 Heures Chrono” newspaper, who was sentenced to a three-year prison term for publishing false news, was on 24 April 2009 freed by President Abdoulaye Wade.
Media Foundation for West Africa’s (MFWA) correspondent reported that Seck was released following a presidential pardon signed the same day.
On 27 August 2008, Seck published an article in “24 Heures Chrono” which linked President Wade and his son Abdul Karim Wade to an alleged money laundering case.
On 28 September 2008, Seck was found guilty of publishing false news, insulting a head of state, public slander and acts with intention to disrupt public order. He was subsequently sentenced to a three-year prison term.
On 23 February 2009, an appeal by Seck’s lawyers was denied and the sentence was upheld.
MFWA commends President Abdoulaye Wade for the pardon and encourages other African heads of state to emulate this gesture, especially, in situations where journalists are convicted or fined for merely carrying out their legitimate duty of informing the public.
Updates the Seck case: http://ifex.org/en/content/view/full/101207
