The above question, I believe would be pondering on the minds of critical minded Sierra Leoneans since the arrest and detention at the Criminal Investigations Department headquarters, of a journalist for simply being professional in the execution of his profession. Journalist Sallieu Tejan Jalloh was arrested and detained only because he had requested a response from the Chief Minister, Professor David Francis, who was alleged to have received some million United States Dollars through his account at the Ecobank.The alleged 1.5 Million United States Dollars was said to have been deposited by SL Mining Company and that the Chief Minister did several withdrawals.
According to the journalist, he got a tip-off from the Financial Intelligence Unit, an institution set up by government to investigate financial fraud and terrorism financing, among a host of others. Professionally and legally, journalists are required to cross check and fact check stories before publication, so as to maintain accuracy and balance. The accuracy clause of the Independent Media Commission (IMC)'s Media Code of Practice demands that: ' Newspapers and Periodicals must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted materials or pics.They must make all reasonable efforts to check and cross check the accuracy of their stories prior to publication.'
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