Highlights: DRC: 20 years in prison required for journalist Stanis Bujakera. The publishing director of actualite.cd and correspondent for Jeune Afrique has already spent six months in detention in Makala prison. He is accused of having fabricated a note attributed to the national intelligence agency (ANR) A technical expert report, commissioned by the court to examine the evidence of the accusations brought by the public prosecutor against the journalist, decided in favor of the journalist. The legal debate is closed and the court has until March 20 to render its decision.

The public prosecutor requested on Friday March 8, 2024 a 20-year prison sentence against journalist Stanis Bujakera. The publishing director of actualite.cd and correspondent for Jeune…

DRC: 20 years in prison required for journalist Stanis Bujakera

The public prosecutor requested on Friday March 8, 2024 a 20-year prison sentence against journalist Stanis Bujakera.

The publishing director of actualite.cd and correspondent for Jeune Afrique has already spent six months in detention in Makala prison.

He is accused of having fabricated a note attributed to the national intelligence agency (ANR), exploited by an article in Jeune Afrique concerning the circumstances of the death of MP Cherubin Okende.

Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera.

By: RFI Follow

The hearing opened with the reading of a technical expert report, commissioned by the court to examine the evidence of the accusations brought by the public prosecutor against the journalist.

In his conclusions, the expert underlined the difficulties inherent in formally demonstrating that Stanis Bujakera is the author or disseminator of the controversial note, attributed to the ANR.

“

This expert demonstrates that Stanis only transmitted the publication of Jeune Afrique.
So this report decides in favor of our client

,” assures Me Jean-Marie Kabegela contacted by RFI.

Despite the uncertainties raised by this report, the public prosecutor maintained and even strengthened its position against the journalist, arguing that since his incarceration, the “

false rumors

” had significantly decreased.

According to the prosecutor, a conviction would serve as a warning to the rest of the journalistic profession.

An attempt to intimidate journalists, according to his lawyers

Faced with these accusations, Stanis Bujakera's lawyers are calling for his acquittal and denouncing an attempt to intimidate him and all independent journalists.

Stanis Bujakera's defense highlighted the absence of material evidence and contested the constitution of the offenses.

“

The public prosecutor has not managed to demonstrate that the incriminating document was the work of the latter and that the latter would have participated in sharing it via his WhatsApp account

,” points out Me Jean-Marie Kabegela who says he is optimistic.

His lawyers stressed that the goal sought by the public prosecutor was less to do justice than to deter the profession.

The legal debate is closed and the court has until March 20 to render its decision.

Read alsoTrial of Congolese journalist Stanis Bujakera: “The rejection of his request for provisional freedom is astonishing”

DRC: 20 years in prison required for journalist Stanis Bujakera

DRC: 20 years in prison required for journalist Stanis Bujakera

An attempt to intimidate journalists, according to his lawyers

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