(MISA/IFEX) – On 27 October 2000, the Angolan Supreme Court ruled on the appeal of journalists Rafael Marques, Aguiar Dos Santos and Gustavo Costa. Marques and Dos Santos had been convicted of defaming the president, while Costa was convicted of defaming Jose Leitao, the chief of the president’s civil office. Marques’ conviction of six months […]
(MISA/IFEX) – On 27 October 2000, the Angolan Supreme Court ruled on the appeal of journalists Rafael Marques, Aguiar Dos Santos and Gustavo Costa. Marques and Dos Santos had been convicted of defaming the president, while Costa was convicted of defaming Jose Leitao, the chief of the president’s civil office.
Marques’ conviction of six months in prison was upheld but his fine was reduced to 50,000 Kwanzas (approx. US$3,762). He was fined an additional 50 Kwanzas per day for six months to be paid to the court for costs. The sentence was suspended for five years, during which time Marques may not talk or write publicly or travel.
Dos Santos’ conviction of two months in jail was upheld and he was fined 25,000 Kwanzas (approx. US$1,880), both of which were suspended for three years. He is allowed to travel during the three year period.
Costa had his sentence reduced to eight months in jail and a fine of 25,000 Kwanzas, both of which were suspended for three years. He too has been allowed to travel.
Neither of the accused nor their lawyers were notified in advance of the Supreme Court ruling. The media was notified and the ruling was read out to them. The accused and their lawyers only got to hear about it through the media.
Background Information
Marques and Dos Santos, the director of the independent weekly “Agora”, were originally tried along with a third accused, Antonio de Freitas, the chief editor of “Agora” who was eventually acquitted. The trial and charges stemmed from an article written by Marques which appeared in “Agora” in July 1999. In the article, Marques referred to Dos Santos as a dictator. The trial of the three journalists began on 21 March 2000 but was held largely in secret and was characterised by several judicial irregularities.
On 16 October 1999, Marques was detained in connection with these charges. He was held in prison for forty-one days and was only formally charged shortly before being released.
Costa was charged with libelling Leito following an article he had penned for a Portuguese newspaper about corruption at the presidential palace. He was convicted in December 1999 in a trial that was closed to the public and the media.
