The Congo DR prosecutor recommends a 20-year prison sentence against journalist Bujakera
The Congo DR prosecutor has recommended a 20-year prison sentence against journalist Stanis Bujakera, who was arrested by the police in Kinshasa on September 8, 2023 on suspicion of providing false news.
Prosecutor Serge Bashonga has asked the court to sentence journalist Stanis Bujakera to 20 years in prison for the crime of providing false information and spreading rumours. The request was made six months after the suspect was arrested.
The journalist of the Jeune Afrique magazine was arrested on September 8 last year for allegedly spreading false information about a report published by the magazine involving the army's intelligence agency and the murder of the former Minister of Transport and Communications of the Congo DR government, Chérubin Okende.
Opposition parties claim 'Chérubin Okende's killing was political'. Okende was a member of the party of Moise Katumbi, a leading opposition politician who ran against President Félix Tshisekedi in the last presidential election.
The decision of the case will be given on the 20th of this month. The defense has already contested all the charges against Bujakera.
Several human rights organizations have been calling for the journalist's release.
