Swaziland human rights lawyer Thulani Maseko and Bheki
Makhubu, the editor of the Nation
magazine, have been jailed on remand for seven days on contempt of court
charges.
The Chief Justice of Swaziland Michael Ramodibedi heard
their cases in chambers away from the public. The men’s lawyer Mandla Mkhwanazi
called the proceeding a ‘kangaroo court’.
The two men are accused of contempt of court for writing
articles in the Nation, the only magazine
of political commentary in Swaziland, criticising the circumstances surrounding the
case of Chief Government Vehicle Inspector, Bhantshana
Gwebu. Gwebu had been arrested and charged with contempt
of court after he arrested a driver of High Court Judge Esther Ota. Gwebu spent
nine days at the Sidwashini Correctional facility before he was released on
E15,000 (US$1,500) bail.
Makhubu was
also convicted in April 2013, along with the Nation
magazine publishers, Swaziland Independent Publishers, of ‘scandalising the
court’ after two articles criticising the judiciary were published in 2009 and
2010. Makhubu and the publisher were fined a total of E400,000 (US$40,000) by
the Swaziland High Court, of which half had to be paid within three days or
Makhubu would immediately be sent to jail for two years. Both Makhubu and the publisher have appealed
the conviction.
See also
SWAZI GOVT
HUMILIATED IN HIGH COURT
http://swazimedia.blogspot.com/2014/01/swazi-govt-humiliated-in-high-court.html
JUDGE ATTACKS SWAZI PRESS FREEDOM
JUDGE ATTACKS SWAZI PRESS FREEDOM
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