Central African Republic’s President, François Bozize, has pardoned Faustin Bambou, Director of the weekly “Les Collines de l’Oubangui”, who was sentenced to six months in prison on 28 January on charges of inciting revolt, abuse and defamation through the media, official sources said in Bangui on Saturday. One of Bambou’s lawyers, Barthélemy Morouba, hailed the President’s “courageous gesture” but said the pardon did not challenge the appeal they had filed. “This is embarrassing for those who gave the ruling,” he said. The journalist had requested the application of the law on the freedom of communication, which decriminalised press offences, instead of the penal code requested by the state prosecutor, Firmin Féïndiro. Bambou was arraigned on 11 January on the order of the state prosecutor and he has since been held in N’garagba prison, East of Bangui. His offence is an editorial accusing then Mining Minister Sylvain Doutingaï and Foreign Minister Côme Zoumara of embezzling 7 billion CFA from the French Areva company earmarked to cover outstanding salaries of civil servants of the Central African Republic. Panapress
