A freelance journalist in Angola has been released on bail. Armando José Chicoca was sentenced to one year in prison on March 3 for reporting on sexual harassment allegations against a top judicial official. Chicoca spent 33 days in prison and posted bail of $2,500.
Armando José Chicoca, a freelance journalist, has been given a one year prison sentence and fined US $2,100 for reporting on sexual harassment allegations against a top judicial official. His report, aired on Voice of America, included references to allegations about Antonio Vissandula, the highest judge in the province of Namibe.
A radio commentator renowned for his popular satirical broadcasts was stabbed in Luanda last Friday. António Manuel Manuel Da Silva is a government critic and his Friday broadcast attacked the Angolan president’s failure to address crime and corruption. The stabbing occurred after Da Silva’s assailant confronted him about his programme. Alexandre Neto, his station’s director, claims Da Silva had recently received two death threats. Since September two other Angolan journalists have been attacked, one fatally, for criticising the government.
Police in Angola have threatened the local media after they reported about a senior police officer charged with rape. The 21-year-old woman’s rape occurred on 19 April but the story was made public after Jose Tiaba da Costa, the sub-inspector of Benguela province’s transport police, handed himself 10 days afterwards. The police said the reporting of the alleged crime had damaged their image. A spokesman stated: “This is a common crime and the fact he’s a policeman is not relevant”.