Angola: Radio journalist sentenced one-month prison term
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 28 December 2007 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Angola: Radio journalist sentenced one-month prison term, 28 December 2007, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/47d146271a.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
December 28, 2007
Posted February 1, 2008
Arnando Chicoca, Radio Ecclesia and Apostolado
IMPRISONED
A court in the southwestern coastal town of Namibe sentenced Radio Ecclesia and Apostolado correspondent Arnando Chicoca to one month imprisonment and a 17,000 kwanza (US$227) fine. Prosecutor Bartholomew Fair said Chicoca was prosecuted for disobeying police under Article 186 of the penal code.
Police had arrested Chicona six days earlier while he was covering protests against the demolition of an informal market. Namibe Gov. Boavioda Neto had ordered police to dismantle "illegal markets" and force vendors to move to a new location. Police Cmdr.Valdemiro da Cruz Verdales said Chicoca was told on December 21 and 22 not to report on the demolition, but the journalist defied the security cordon.
Local journalists reported that police beat Chicoca and confiscated his phone, tape recorder and other equipment. Family members and Radio Ecclesia and Apostolado were not informed of his trial date, local journalists told CPJ. Raul Mangueira, a lawyer who heads a regional human rights commission, said the prosecution failed to produce evidence in support of the charge.
