Democratic Republic of Congo
Journalist acquitted after 41-day imprisonmentPosted Dec 17 2008
The local magistrate’s court of Kinshasa acquitted Global TV studio manager Daudet Lukombo Oct. 29, ending his 41-day detention in the Kinshasa penitentiary. Arrested Sept. 11 during a police raid of the station, Lukombo faced charges of inciting rebellion and offending a head of state, according to International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX).
The charges stemmed from a press conference held earlier Sept. 11 where Né Muanda Nsémim, a military policeman and spiritual leader of the Bunda Dia Kongo spiritual and political group, allegedly accused members of the government of being responsible for the present state of the eastern region of the country. In this region, the Armed Forces of the DRC-national army, FARDC, clashed with Laurent Nkunda’s rebel troops in the province of North Kivu.