(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA-MFWA alert: Three media workers who were held at the Lome prison for nearly five weeks have been released. Philipe Evegnon, managing director of “L’Evenement” newspaper, and Jean de Dieu Kpakpala, a reporter with the “Nouvel Echo” weekly, were released on 23 July 2003 following an order by […]
(MISA/IFEX) – The following is a joint MISA-MFWA alert:
Three media workers who were held at the Lome prison for nearly five weeks have been released. Philipe Evegnon, managing director of “L’Evenement” newspaper, and Jean de Dieu Kpakpala, a reporter with the “Nouvel Echo” weekly, were released on 23 July 2003 following an order by the Lome Magistrate Court. “L’Evenement” editor Dimas Dzikodo was released on 24 July.
According to MFWA-Togo, the Lome court tried the three journalists on 22 July. The case was dismissed and Evegnon and Kpakpala were set free the following day.
Dzikodo was found guilty of “attempting to spread false information” under Article 65 of the Togo Criminal Code. He was fined 500,000 CFA francs (approx. US$900) and given a 12-month suspended sentence for “disturbing the public order.” Dzikodo remained in custody until approximately 10:00 a.m. (local time) on 24 July, when he was released after borrowing money to pay the fine.
