Paper editor gets 6 months in jail for defamation

The Rabat court of first instance on Tuesday condemned Anas Tadili, editor of the Arab-speaking weekly "Akhbar Al Ousboua" to six months in jail and a fine of 5,000 Dhs (US $555) for defamation against a member of the government.

The newspaper's correspondent in Tetuan, Ahmed Byouzan, was condemned to a suspended 6 month sentence and a fine of 3,000 Dhs (US $333).

Tadili and Byouzan were sued for "defamation, denigration of a governmental figure and propagation of false information likely to undermine public order."

Tadili is also sued in another case by the Ministry in charge of the Modernization of Public Sectors which filed a complaint against him for libel.

This came after an article published in "Akhbar Al Ousboua" said that 100 hectares of state-owned agricultural land were illegally transferred to the concerned ministry.

The Court postponed the case to June 15 to allow the defense prepare its arguments.