Senegal / Three-year jail sentence for newspaper editor upheld on appeal
DAKAR, Sénégal, February 25, 2009/African Press Organization (APO)/ — A Dakar appeal court yesterday upheld the three-year jail sentence passed on El Malick Seck, the editor of the Dakar-based daily 24 Heures Chrono, on 12 September for a vaguely-sourced report claiming the president and his son Karim were involved in money laundering in Côte d’Ivoire. Arrested on 28 August, Seck was convicted of “disseminating false news.”
“This regrettable ruling is very damaging for Senegal’s image,” Reporters Without Borders said. “By insisting on keeping Seck in prison, the Senegalese authorities have preferred punishment to justice.”
Reporters Without Borders wrote to President Abdoulaye Wade on 17 January voicing concern about the judicial persecution of Seck and asking him to grant the editor a pardon. No reply was received to the letter.
SOURCE : Reporters without Borders (RSF)
