Bob Atikpo, a member of the "Nubuke" Movement kidnapped and tortured at the Intelligence and Investigation Service (SRI), then thrown to the Lomé civil prison, was tried Friday in Lomé court.
Arrested last January 23 in Kpalimé, he was accused of "spreading false news" about a Togolese personality close to power.
Friday at the Court of Lome, despite the arguments of his lawyer, Mr. Zeus Ajavon, the Sieur Bob Atikpo was sentenced to 12 months in prison including 9 suspended sentence. For Zeus Ajavon, this trial is highly political.
"We swung a picture of a Togolese personality. My client saw this picture. And he did not even realize who he is. Since the picture was not clear. So he saw the picture and he shared it on social networks. The person who was targeted complained about the dissemination of false news. I first wondered what could be the charge of false news? What false news? I do not understand. But, everything I said was not enough. In the end, the judge sentenced him to 12 months in prison, 9 of which were suspended. Since he has already spent a month in prison, he has only 2 left, "said the lawyer.
According to him, normally this trial should not take place. "It's a political trial. We wanted to condemn this young man. Even if it's for three months, we still sentenced him. His criminal record is dirty now. Why ? How can one go to search someone's e-mail to know that there is this kind of photo? It's forbidden. It's a violation of his freedom. It is an offense condemned by the Togolese Constitution, "he indignantly said.
Recall that the two other members of the "Nubuke" Movement (Kokodoko Messenth and Kokou Dodzi Eza), arbitrarily arrested, still languish in prison without trial.
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