Detained Congolese journalist Boujakra released, lawyer says

Stanis Bujakera, a journalist detained in Congo since September for spreading false information, was released on Tuesday, his lawyer said.

Lawyer Yana Ndikulu said Bujakra, who works for international media including Reuters and Jeune Afrique, was released on Tuesday night from prison in the capital Kinshasa where he was being held.

“It’s free to our customers,” Ndikulu said.

Bujakra told Reuters the prison director told him he was free to leave shortly after 9:30 p.m. local time.

On Monday, a court in Kinshasa found Bujakra guilty of spreading false information, among other charges.

The court sentenced him to six months in prison and fined him 1 million Congolese francs ($364). Bujakra will be released on Tuesday because he has completed his sentence, his legal team said after the ruling.

But the release was unexpectedly put on hold late Tuesday with news that state prosecutors in the case had appealed the verdict. However, about three hours later, Bujakra’s lawyer said prosecutors had withdrawn his appeal, paving the way for his release.

Reuters contacted the prosecutor after the news was published, but he said he could not comment further.

French news magazines said Boujakra was arrested in September for allegedly spreading false information about the killing of a prominent opposition politician in an article published by Les Afriques.

Earlier this month, prosecutors in the case asked a Kinshasa court to sentence Boujakra to 20 years in prison.

Local and international rights groups, including Reporters Without Borders and Amnesty International, condemned Bujakra’s detention, calling it an attack on press freedom. Reuters also called for his release.