Yet another Senegalese journalist has been sentenced on criminal defamation charges within a week. This journalist, according to Afrol News, was found guilty of "publishing false news."
Papa Moussa Guèye, director of the private daily L'Exclusif, was handed a six-month suspended prison term by a court in the capital Dakar. His troubles began after his paper published an article on President Abdoulaye Wade's alleged late night "escapades" last year. Apart from being arrested, Guèye's office situated outside Dakar, was also raided by the police.
Some background details:
The court acquitted the author of the story Pape Moussa Doukar. It also dismissed several serious criminal charges against Guèye under Senegal's penal code. This included "offense to the head of state" and "acts that might compromise public security or cause serious political disturbance," in breach of a notorious national security provision of Article 80.
Guèye has regretted using the word "escapades" to describe alleged outings by President Wade and his Chief of Staff, although he stood by the story. Believing that he will be denied justice in "politically-influenced courts," Guèye said he will not file an appeal against the judgment.
Tuesday's ruling came a week after Director Jules Diop and Editor-in-Chief Serigne Saliou Samb of private daily newspaper 'L'Observateur' were handed six-month suspended prison sentences and heavy damages over a critical story.
