(JED/IFEX) – On 17 September 2001, a Kinshasa/Pont Kasa-vubu tribunal, headquartered at the CPRK (Kinshasa Penitentiary and Reeducation Centre), sentenced Freddy Loseke Lisumbu la Yayenga, director of “La Libre Afrique” newspaper, to five months’ imprisonment (including three months suspended) and twelve months’ imprisonment with no parole, for defamation, in two separate cases. The first case […]
(JED/IFEX) – On 17 September 2001, a Kinshasa/Pont Kasa-vubu tribunal, headquartered at the CPRK (Kinshasa Penitentiary and Reeducation Centre), sentenced Freddy Loseke Lisumbu la Yayenga, director of “La Libre Afrique” newspaper, to five months’ imprisonment (including three months suspended) and twelve months’ imprisonment with no parole, for defamation, in two separate cases.
The first case against Loseke, for which the journalist was arrested on 30 April and detained at the CPRK, was brought forward by Sony Kafuta, pastor of the “Army of the Eternal” evangelical church and chaplain of the FAP (Popular Self-defence Forces, a paramilitary group founded by the late president Laurent-Désiré Kabila). Kafuta was appointed by a decree of the head of state. In the 19 April edition of his newspaper, Loseke reported that Kafuta did not pay his debts.
The second case against the journalist was brought forward by a Belgian citizen, Vincent Jullet, manager of the private aviation company Walt’Air. In its 19 April edition, “La Libre Afrique” reported that, “Having arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo empty-handed, Walt’Air’s manager was taken in by a Congolese woman and ⦠demonstrated unfair competition in his business practices.” The tribunal found Loseke guilty of defamation and sentenced him to twelve months’ imprisonment with no parole. The journalist, who was represented by five lawyers, appealed the second ruling.
