(JED/IFEX) – Patrice Booto, managing editor of the Kinshasa-based thrice-weekly “Le Journal” and its supplement “Pool Malebo”, was released from prison on 3 August 2006 at about 6 p.m. (local time). As soon as he was released, Booto contacted JED to express relief after spending nine long months at a Kinshasa prison (Centre Pénitentiaire et […]
(JED/IFEX) – Patrice Booto, managing editor of the Kinshasa-based thrice-weekly “Le Journal” and its supplement “Pool Malebo”, was released from prison on 3 August 2006 at about 6 p.m. (local time). As soon as he was released, Booto contacted JED to express relief after spending nine long months at a Kinshasa prison (Centre Pénitentiaire et de Rééducation de Kinshasa, CPRK).
On 27 July, the Kinshasa/Kalamu High Court sentenced him to six months in prison and payment of a 200,000 Congolese franc (US$500) fine. But since he had already spent nine months in prison, Booto was to regain his freedom as soon as he had completed all the related administrative formalities.
Ruling on appeal and quashing the previous ruling, the court found the journalist guilty of “spreading false rumours in public,” while he was acquitted of the offences of “offending the president” and “insulting the government.”
BACKGROUND:
The journalist was arrested on 2 November 2005, after publishing, in the 15-21 September 2005 issue (number 20) and the 16-19 September 2005 issue (number 181) of “Pool Malebo” and “Le Journal”, an article claiming that the Congolese head of state had offered the Tanzanian education system US$30 million at a time of tension between the government and education unions in the DRC.
The case was transferred to the State Security Court (CSE) and a public trial was held and deliberated over on 14 February 2006. Following the dissolution of the CSE on 18 February 2006, after the adoption of a new constitution, the case was transferred to the Peace Tribunal of Kinshasa/Assossa. On 30 May, the Peace Tribunal sentenced the journalist to six months in prison and payment of a US$500 fine.
On 2 June, the public prosecutor launched an appeal of the Kinshasa/Assossa Peace Tribunal’s verdict, seeing it as clemency for the journalist.
