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SA photographer arrested
21/05/2006 16:42 - (SA)
Windhoek - A South African photographer was arrested in Namibia over the weekend for allegedly trying to snap Hollywood's hottest couple Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, who are due to have their first baby soon, police said on Sunday.
John Liebenberg was arrested on Friday night at Walvis Bay, about 400km west of Windhoek and was due to appear in court on Monday, police official Andrew Iyambo told AFP.
"I can confirm he was arrested Friday evening," deputy commissioner Iyambo said. "He is still in police custody and will appear before the Walvis Bay magistrate's court on Monday morning."
Iyambo did not outline the charges. Bodyguards 'hardhanded'
Bodyguards of the reclusive couple have reportedly been quite hardhanded with local and foreign media since Jolie and Pitt's arrival in the coastal village of Langstrand seven weeks ago.
Namibian authorities last month gave three South African journalists and one from France 48 hours to leave the country as they had travelled on tourist visas and had failed to apply for temporary work permits.
All were reportedly interested in trying to take photographs of the couple.
Namibia's national society for human rights has condemned the tough stance of Pitt and Jolie's bodyguards, who appear to have the sanction of the Namibian police.
"Since their arrival in the country, the Hollywood pack ... has surrounded themselves with highly aggressive, pepper-toting and hostile men with tattoos, who would not hesitate to harass, intimidate and even threaten to kill anyone suspected of stalking," said its executive director Phil ya Nangoloh.
"The authorities should release Liebenberg unconditionally and desist from any further hostile acts against both local and international media workers," ya Nangoloh told AFP.
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South Africa
