Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Mimi Mefo Info
Published on 2024-02-26 21:52:39
Arrested more than two weeks ago, the journalist was placed in provisional detention at the Kondengui prison last Friday, a detention that has raised several questions within the public opinion.
Journalist Bruno Bidjang has been staying at the Kondengui prison since last Friday. The star presenter of the show Club d’Élite on Vision 4 was placed in provisional detention at the Kondengui prison for “spreading false news.” According to the detention warrant signed by the Commissioner of the Yaoundé Military Court, Belinga Cerlin, the journalist must be brought “under good and secure escort to the military court of Yaoundé on March 14,” next. This case has raised several questions within the public opinion.
Immediately after his arrest, social media quickly announced that the journalist was arrested for a video he made to denounce the high cost of living. However, the reason given by the military court contradicts this hypothesis. No element in the said video could be considered false news. So, what is the false news he is accused of spreading related to? Some sources mention a post about the increase in fuel prices where the journalist had announced new prices that did not match reality. This post was later deleted.
Another curiosity is that the journalist was brought before the military court for an offense that is considered a crime under the Penal Code. Some question the competence of the military court in this matter. According to lawyer Claude Assira, a member of the Cameroon bar, “the spreading of false news is considered by our Penal Code as an infringement upon the internal security of the State and therefore falls under the jurisdiction of the military court.”
Furthermore, Bruno Bidjang was held in custody for nearly 15 days. This is an exceptional period of custody, as common law provides for 48 hours of custody renewable once. Exceptional custody of up to 15 days only applies to offenses related to terrorism, causing more questions to arise.
Another curiosity is why a journalist with unquestionable representation guarantees can be placed so easily in provisional detention?
Within the public opinion, the question persists: what is the false news that Bruno Bidjang is accused of spreading related to? And why this persistence against the former editor-in-chief of Vision 4?
While some believe it is a resurgence of a previous case in which the journalist was set free, this remains to be proven, especially since the journalist was arrested by the gendarmerie and questioned without a judicial requisition.
Others simply conclude that the Bruno Bidjang case, which they believe is an intimidation maneuver, is part of the battle between rival clans openly vying for power. If this is the case, Bruno Bidjang should simply be released, as justice should not be an instrument for settling scores.
Joseph Essama
Read the original article(French) on Mimi Mefo Info
