Ex-official sentenced for 'insulting' Yayi
2013-01-24 08:53
Cotonou - A former spokesperson for Benin President Thomas
Boni Yayi was sentenced to six months in prison on Wednesday on a charge of
insulting the head of state by suggesting his entourage was corrupt
Lionel Agbo, Yayi's spokesperson until March 2011, suggested
in September that the president intended to remain in office beyond his legally
mandated two terms and that members of his entourage were corrupt.
Judge Ulrich Gilbert Togbonon declared Agbo "guilty of
complicity of the crime of insulting the head of state" while sentencing
him to six months in prison and a fine of 500 000 CFA ($1 015).
Last week in the West African nation, the head of private
television channel Canal 3 was sentenced to three months in prison since her
station aired the press conference.
The International Federation of Journalists harshly
criticised the television director's sentence, calling it disproportionate and
saying it risked forcing the news media into self-censorship.
The case is among several in Benin that have targeted
high-profile figures, including one involving an alleged plot to poison Yayi
that resulted in arrests in October.
Some have accused the presidency of targeting its enemies,
but Yayi, whose term as African Union chairperson is set to end this month, has
claimed to be working to curb corruption and government officials have strongly
defended the probe into the alleged poison attempt.
- SAPA
