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The trial of jailed journalist Paul Chouta has suffered another adjournment at a time attacks on the media are intensifying.
Chouta is next expected in court on June 24, 2020, following today’s adjournment.
The pressman who has spent over a year in detention failed to get a hearing. While his lawyers showed up and on time, Chouta’s accuser, like in previous instances, failed to make it. Calixthe had earlier taken to social media on the issue.
The court said the case was postponed because Chouta’s defense counsel failed to extract the accused and not due to the absence of other parties.
Many have since taken to social media to condemned the continuous postponement of Chouta’s case, stating that the character of his accuser demonstrates malicious intent.
Accused of defamation by writer Calixthe Beyala, Chouta’s sentence, if found guilty would be just six months. He has however spent over a year awaiting trial.
The case of Paul Chouta is one of many journalists arbitrarily arrested and jailed in Cameroon.
Njoka Kingsley, another journalist was picked up by security forces and only showed up at the much-dreaded SED 24 days later due to pressure for the government to reveal his whereabouts.
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