Somalia: FM station cleared of alleged slander in case by Puntland Govt

GAROWE, Somalia, August 17, 2015 (Garowe Online)-Sahan Radio, Puntland-based independent station has been acquitted of criminal defamation charges in a case by the government on Monday, Garowe Online reports.

Media Association of Puntland (MAP) lauded the decision by a judge at the first degree court of Nugal at the request of prosecutors overseeing the two-day oral arguments in the state capital, Garowe.

He said, they have decided to strike down the criminal proceedings since the government’s lawsuit couldn’t amount to utter charges of slur.

On August 12, Puntland government instituted a legal writ against the private broadcaster, Sahan Radio.

It was accused of faulting suspension of official parades on Puntland’s founding day on August 1 on prodigious lavishness of the presidency, trifling hiring of artists and budget crises.

Moreover, Puntland Information Ministry blasted the media house for reporting on possible Al Shabaab attacks.

The case was the first to be heard at Puntland court, signaling worries over free speech for large chunk of media professionals.

International press watchdogs including Reporters Without Borders became alarmed at unprecedented censorship following coverage blackout of at least five websites in Puntland in December 2014.

GAROWE ONLINE