DRC newspaper publisher released

The DRC newspaper published who was arrested recently for allegedly "threatening and attempting to swindle" a public official, has been freed.

Kinshasa - Phambu Lutete, publisher of the Kinshasa-based bi-weekly newspaper La Tolérance, was granted a provisional release on 11 May 2007 after five days in detention. The journalist told JED that he paid "bail"
of US$50.

Phambu was arrested on 6 May by agents of Kinshasa's Provincial Police Inspection (IPK) before being transferred on 8 May to the Kinshasa/Matete High Court Prosecutor's Office.

The journalist was officially accused of "threatening and attempting to swindle" Pauline Ipelueka, a senior official with Kinshasa's property tax office. Phambu had been preparing an article in which he expressed surprise at Ipeluka's recent appointment to a high-level post, given the fact she has been facing legal proceedings since the beginning of the year.

Source: JED