DR Congo Court Denies Bail To Jailed Reporter: Lawyers

His lawyers last week filed a new demand for his release from Kinshasa’s central jail after the country’s president said the reporter was a « victim » of « sick » justice.

But the Kinshasa high court « has just refused to free Stanis Bujakera », lawyer Ndikulu Yana told AFP.

Media rights group Reporters Without Borders condemned the court’s decision on Tuesday, saying Bujakera was being held on false allegations. It said it was the seventh time he had been denied bail.

At a press conference on Thursday, Democratic Republic of Congo President Felix Tshisekedi criticised what he called « procrastination » over the case and said he had decided to « stick my nose in ».

He added that he would take « the decision that needs to be taken ».

Multiple appeals for Bujakera to be set free have until now all failed.

His trial has been adjourned until March 8.

Bujakera faces accusations of « fabricating and distributing » a note from civilian intelligence incriminating military intelligence in the murder of politician Cherubin Okende, found riddled with bullets in his car last July 13.

For several weeks the trial court has been bogged down with experts attempting to authenticate documents and signatures.

mbb-ah/bp/rlp