A special court in N’Djamena on Tuesday rejected a request for the provisional release of journalists Monodji Mbaidiguim Olivier, Mahamat Saleh Hisseine, and Ndilyam Alladoum.
Monodji Mbaidiguim, editor-in-chief of Le Pays and correspondent for RFI in Chad, has been held at N’Djamena Central Prison since March 5, alongside the two other journalists. All three are facing charges of “engaging with agents of a foreign power and colluding in ways likely to harm Chad’s military, diplomatic, or economic interests”—offenses punishable by one to five years in prison.
During the hearing, the prosecutor’s ninth deputy requested a two-year prison sentence for the defendants.
In total, 16 journalists have been implicated in the case, although only three are currently being held in detention.
CA/te/sf/lb/as/APA