(RSF/IFEX) – Police arrests of two journalists in one week were an abuse of power, Reporters Without Borders said, calling for a full investigation of the two cases. Those arrested by police in Kingston were: Julian Richardson, financial journalist for the daily “Jamaica Observer” and Ricardo Makyn, a photographer for the daily “The Gleaner”. Richardson […]
(RSF/IFEX) – Police arrests of two journalists in one week were an abuse of power, Reporters Without Borders said, calling for a full investigation of the two cases. Those arrested by police in Kingston were: Julian Richardson, financial journalist for the daily “Jamaica Observer” and Ricardo Makyn, a photographer for the daily “The Gleaner”.
Richardson was arrested and threatened with death on 14 February 2009, after he refused to pay a bribe to two officers in exchange for withdrawing charges against him of “using indecent language and obstructing the traffic”. On 20 February, Makyn was banned from taking photos of a police officer who shot and wounded a man who had tried to snatch his mobile phone. The photographer was told he was being reported for “insult, assault and disobedience towards a police officer” and taken to the police station. His case is due to be heard on 4 March.
