A member of the Ivorian parliament has been jailed for a year for spreading false news.
BBC Afrique also reports that the MP, Alain Lobognon was fined $520 for the offence. He is also accused of inciting violence.
Lobognon on January 9 posted a message on twitter claiming the country’s chief prosecutor intends ordering the arrest of an MP.
The prosecutor then denied Lobognon’s claim reacting that the tweet triggered angry demonstrations.
Mr Lobognon was put on trial and sentenced for his alleged offence.
His lawyer however say the MP would appeal the decision. Mr Lobognon lawyers say they suspect that their client is being politically targeted.
Le substitut du Procureur vient de me notifier que je suis mis sous mandat de dépôt. Enfin, de prisonnier en sursis, je suis désormais un prisonnier du Régime. La Constitution de #Ci225 encore violée. Que Dieu veille sur les Ivoiriens. #15Mai2019 pic.twitter.com/C9uI8J4tiX
— Alain Lobognon (@Alainlobog) January 15, 2019
Mr Lobognon is said to be close to Guillaume Soro, a former rebel leader and prime minster. Soro is now the speaker of the National Assembly.
But he and President Alassane Ouattara recently fell out.
Source: Africafeeds.com
