Concord Times (Freetown)
Ibrahim Tarawallie
6 September 2008
Freetown — Acting executive editor of Standard Times newspaper was Thursday arraigned before Magistrates Mohamed Bawoh of court N0.6 for allegedly libelling the minister of health and sanitation, Dr Soccoh Kabia.
According to the particulars of offence, the newspaper on Monday 4, August, 2008 carried an article headlined 'Two 20ft container drugs stolen at medical stores.' The publication was considered malicious defamatory libel against the minister of health and sanitation.
The article stated: "It is clear that since his appointment as minister of health and sanitation, Dr. Soccoh Kabia has refused to impress his boss, instead he is becoming an embarrassment to him, his party and the state." According to the publication, the minister requested the chief security officer who reported about the container to be immediately transferred to the Kissy mental home.
It was also reported in the newspaper that few weeks before the stealing of the 20ft container drugs, another 20ft container of substandard killer Maxam toothpaste was imported into the country and that officials of the pharmacy board in Freetown recommended that the paste be destroyed as it was unfit for human consumption but the minister failed to take necessary instruction.
The prosecution also alleged that on that same date, the newspaper published a false statement which was aimed at bringing the minister's name into disrepute.
Prosecuting counsel Charles Francis Margai said a subpoena has already been filed to witnesses in the matter, among them independent media commission.
He asked for an adjournment because of a failure of the defense lawyer to appear in court.
The matter was adjourned to September 11 2008.
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