Editor of the online publication Malawi
Voice, Justice Mponda, was arrested last week in Blantyref on charges of trying
to extort money. Police have confirmed that they are holding Mponda in cell.
In an alert to a Malawian
journalist on their internet discussion forum, the chairperson of the Malawi
Chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Anthony Kasunda, said
he has been to Blantyre Police Station where Justice Mponda is being held on
"extortion" charges.
"I did not manage to meet
him as I was told it is late, but a police officer on duty was kind enough to
go inside and speak to him on my behalf. In brief, he says he was told by some
PP officials (name withheld for the time being) to meet them in Limbe to thank
him for removing a critical story on the internet. As he was receiving K500,
000 as a thank you and part payment to develop a website for the PP guys,
Police officers arrested him. The money is here as exhibit according to the
officer," Kasunda informed.
Mponda was last year cleared from
the courts on charges of insulting President Joyce Banda and publishing false
information. Misa-Malawi has always argued that only dialogue between
government and the media would provide a more enabling environment for media
freedom, freedom of expression and ultimately citizen empowerment.
Original article: http://allafrica.com/stories/201311030300.html
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