Kumi, 10th/March/2020; The Magistrates Court in Kumi presided over by Her Worship Lamunu Peace has on 10th Tuesday, remanded Vision Group Journalist and sub-Editor James Odongo Akia attached to Etop Newspaper to Kumi Government Prison on charges of Cyber harassment, computer misuse and defamation.
James was arrested on Thursday 5th March 2020 and briefly taken to East Kyoga Regional Police Headquarters in Soroti before being taken to Kumi Police station where he was incarcerated until today when he was brought before the Magistrates court for plea taking.
The journalist applied for bail through Counsel Menya Paul of Okurut, Okalebo, & Outeke Company Advocates contracted by Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda but court declined to grant the bail bond since the other five co-accused were already on remand.
This comes on the heels of the arrest and detention of another journalist John Ogule a correspondent for Red Pepper Publications on Friday 14th February 2020 still on the charge of defamation. Ogule was granted bail on the 19th day of February 2020 by Soroti Magistrates Court.
The case is scheduled for 18th March 2020 when the journalist and the other five co-accused are expected to be brought back to court. The complainant in the case is Dr. Ekure John an Orthopedic surgeon based in Kumi.
According to the Prosecution, James Odongo Akia allegedly attacked and defamed Dr. Ekure using a pseudo-Facebook account in the name of Charles Okou.
