(RSF/IFEX) – According to information made available by RSF on 25 August 1998, on 25 May 1998, Cornel Sabou, editor-in-chief of the private press agency Trans-Pres, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for “defamation” by a court in Bistritza (northern Romania.) On 22 August 1998, Sabou was arrested so that he would begin serving […]
(RSF/IFEX) – According to information made available by RSF on 25 August
1998, on 25 May 1998, Cornel Sabou, editor-in-chief of the private press
agency Trans-Pres, was sentenced to 10 months in prison for “defamation” by
a court in Bistritza (northern Romania.) On 22 August 1998, Sabou was
arrested so that he would begin serving his sentence.
Sabou was found guilty of having “defamed” Judge Mariana Iancu, chief of the
court of Baia-Mare (northern Romania), in an article published on 3 April
1997 in the newspaper “ZIUA” (The Day). The article told of protests by
villagers against the judge, accused of having used her influence to deprive
a village in the region of twelve hectares of agricultural land.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the Minister of Justice:
of an
opinion constitutes a serious attack on freedom of the press
judgment annulled
Appeals To
Mr. Valeriu Stoïka
Minister of Justice
Bucharest, Romania
Fax: +40 1 613 45 40
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
