Tam-Baryoh
A senior police officer at the Criminal Investigations Department has confirmed to Politico that journalist David Tam-Baryoh has been arrested. The source would give no further detail on what he is being detained for or even the reason for his detention.
However a usually reliable source says his arrest is in connection with a story he is said to be investigating involving the country's president.
A police source, who cannot be named, says a document the journalist is alleged to be having in his possession has been requested for. However, the journalist who hosts MONOLOGUE, the most popular weekly radio programme in the country aired on a network of radio stations including his own Citizen Radio, has reportedly denied knowledge of the said document.
Other sources say Tam-Baryoh sent an SMS text message to the minister of transport, Balogun Koroma accusing him of being displeased with his radio programme and planning to "deal" with him. The journalists also alleged that he had heard of plans by some government officials to burn down his radio station.
In October two editors of the local daily Independent Observer newspaper were arrested for publishing an article the authorities deemed demeaning to President Ernest Bai Koroma. In what drew sharp criticism from media rights groups around the world and the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists, the journalists were detained for 18 days, six of those without charge. They were later charged on seditious libel allegations and were granted a stiff bail in the sum of Le 500 million (around US$ 115,000).
(C) Politico Online 02/01/14
