(RSF/IFEX) – The police transferred RSF correspondent Saleem Samad to Dhaka central prison on 4 December 2002, after a hearing at which his lawyers and family were unable to gain access to him. Although he had been interrogated for five days, the police handled his transfer to prison in such a way that his lawyer […]
(RSF/IFEX) – The police transferred RSF correspondent Saleem Samad to Dhaka central prison on 4 December 2002, after a hearing at which his lawyers and family were unable to gain access to him. Although he had been interrogated for five days, the police handled his transfer to prison in such a way that his lawyer was unable to obtain his signature on a document granting power of attorney, which would have enabled the lawyer to take additional legal initiatives for his release.
The next hearing is due to take place on 9 December. However, certain sources in Dhaka say the Criminal Investigation Department officers now in charge of the case could resume their interrogation of Samad after the festivities marking the end of the month of Ramadan.
Meanwhile, Samad’s family has continued to receive threats from police and members of the secret services. His younger brother Shamim, who had filed a request for his release on bail, was himself threatened with arrest and had to go into hiding for several days. His father, Abdus Samad, aged 81, was obliged to get up in the middle of the night to answer questions from police officers. Officers have raided and searched the family home at least three times. His sister-in-law has been receiving daily threats. His wife and son have gone into hiding.
Journalists Zaiba Malik and Bruno Sorrentino, of Britain’s Channel 4 television, and their translator Priscilla Raj were taken to Dhaka prison on 2 December. Their driver was released the same day. Lawyers and diplomats finally obtained access to the journalists at the prison on 2 December at 8:00 p.m. (local time). Previously, the police had refused to comply with a High Court decision authorising access to the journalists. Representatives of the Italian and British embassies said the two journalists and their translator were not beaten during interrogation. The prison governor received the journalists in his office before they were taken to their cells.
The authorities have still not informed the lawyers of the exact charges weighing against their clients. The court has simply said that the two European journalists are accused of entering Bangladesh using “false identities” and “conspiring against the country.”
A petition to free the British journalists and RSF’s correspondent is available at www.rsf.org
