Popular journalist in Cameroon, Mimi Mefo who was jailed for some social media comments she made has now been released.
The television presenter from the country’s restive anglophone region, was accused by the government of “attacking state security”.
Her TV station, the privately-owned Equinoxe broadcasting said the journalist left prison on Saturday. It showed images of her returning to her home with colleagues.
Mefo according to her lawyer was arrested on last week Wednesday and charged by a military tribunal.
She was placed in preventive detention in the New-Bell prison in Cameroon’s commercial capital Douala. Her lawyer said she was to be tried by a military court on Monday.
What Mimi said
Mefo had been facing jail term for a social media post she put up saying “the army was responsible for the death of US missionary Charles Trumann Wesco”
Charles Wesco, a 44-year-old was shot while traveling in the English-speaking North West region, gripped with violence as the military fights separatists.
Mr. Wesco had just moved into the country two weeks ago. Family sources say he was shot in a car, in-front of his wife, son, another missionary and a driver.
BREAKING
Journalist , Mimi Mefo Takambou has been released from New Bell Central Prison in Douala.
Lead Counsel, Barrister Tamfu Richard has confirmed.
Prince Nfor Hanson Nchanji pic.twitter.com/OkaYx9a3uU
— nfor hanson (@NforHanson) November 10, 2018
In a statement government said the missionary was caught in cross-fire between the security forces and separatist fighters.
The government is unhappy with media reportage blaming its troops for the missionary’s death.
Released but still guilty?
The Cameroonean army spokesman Colonel Didier Badjeck said “It is the head of state who personally decided to stop the prosecution in a gesture of magnanimity,”
He said “This does not mean, far from it, that this journalist is innocent”.
Meanwhile the National Union of Cameroon Journalists said in a statement that Mefo’s “innocence is established and the proof that her imprisonment was planned is overwhelming.”
Source: Africafeeds.com
