The managing-editor of the Herald newspaper, Larry Alans Dogbey has been granted bail, a day after he was jailed 7 days in imprisonment by an Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Isaac Addo, over a contempt of court.
The journalist was convicted on Thursday, 25 June following the newspaper’s publication of case involving oil magnet Kevin Okyere and Petraco SA, despite an injunction against it.
The surprising conviction was first confirmed on Facebook by Dogbey, stating that the court found him in contempt for disregarding the court’s orders regarding the publication of statements related to Okyere, who happens to be the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), of Springfield Group.
But he maintained that, The Herald only reported on a petition allegedly submitted by the multinational company to several state institutions, including the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), and the Attorney-General’s Department.
“Justice Isaac Addo of the Accra High Court has just convicted me and sentenced me to seven days’ imprisonment in the case involving Kevin Okyere and Petraco SA. The Herald newspaper reported only on a petition filed by the multinational company with CID, EOCO, GIPC, and the Attorney-General, among others. Ghana deserves better. Journalism is not a crime,” Dogbey wrote.
Media organizations including the Private Newspapers and Online Publishers Association (PRINPAG) and the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) quickly after the court gave it verdict expressed disappointment about the conviction, fearing this highhandedness could hinder media freedom.
The groups in their numbers working with private legal practitioners worked tirelessly to ensure their colleague regains his freedom within 24-hoyrs. And so today, Friday, June 26, an application was filed and he was granted a 100, 000 bail with two sureties pending appeal.
President of PRINPAG, David Tamakloe, who led the media in ensuring his colleague is freed shared the news on his social media handles.
“Managing editor of the Herald newspaper Larry Dogbey has just been granted bail by the court pending appeal. We are very grateful to all who helped in diverse ways to support the effort to secure his liberty. Thank you alwyers, David Annan, Oliver Baker Vormawor and Theoplilous Donkor”, he posed.
By Gifty Boateng