Editor of Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS) a privately owned radio station, Gabriel Kamlomo on 12 August 2009, appeared before the Lilongwe Magistrates Court on charges of broadcasting false information likely to cause public fear and alarm, contrary to Section 60 (1) of the penal code. (Pictured: Gabriel Kamlomo)He is accused for broadcasting a news bulletin on 3 July 2009 in which two women allegedly complained to have been hired to wash a mutilated corpse with missing body parts in Lilongwe in December 2008. Magistrate Vikochie Ndovi postponed the case to 22 September 2009 pending further investigation by the police. The case is said to have spanned several month now with the police failing to provide their complete version of the story.
Background
On 7 July 2009 the Malawi police in the capital, Lilongwe arrested Gabriel Kamlomo, an Editor for Zodiak Broadcasting Station (ZBS), a privately owned radio station. Kamlomo is accused of misleading a police officer and causing public alarm by broadcasting, what the police say is an alleged false murder case. Kamlomo was released on bail of K10, 000 (US$72) cash and K20, 000 non-cash as surety. He was also instructed to reports to the police every fortnight.
Meanwhile, MISA-Malawi has condemned Kamlomos arrest. In a statement signed by its Chairperson, Brian Ligomeka, MISA-Malawi described the action taken by the police as strange and at the same time an infringement on media freedoms.
Post published in: Zimbabwe News