PressBridge

Apollinaire Mewenemesse, the dean of the Togolese press, 71 years old, publishing director of the weekly “La Dépêche” has just had a committal warrant issued against him this Thursday, March 28, 2024. After 48 hours in police custody, he was presented at the beginning of the afternoon to the Public Prosecutor who issued a committal warrant against him. However, the native of Kozah returned to the BRI. Certainly because of his age. For the moment, we do not know the final decision that will be taken by the judge: will he go to prison or still kept at the BRI..? 

According to his lawyer, Me Darius Atsoo, seven (7) charges were brought against him, including two (2) which fall under the penal code, namely forgery and use of forgery, dissemination of false news with the effect of sedition. The others fall under the press code such as: apology against national defense and state security, counterfeit publication, publication by press having undermined the honor and dignity of the President of the Republic, publication information that has harmedto the courts and tribunals…

The defense is preparing a press release for the press and public opinion. 

Note that in its publication dated February 28, 2024, the weekly published an article entitled: “The villainous assassination of Colonel Madjoulba, and if General Félix Kadangha Abalo was Captain Dreyfus of Togo?”. In this article, the editorialist returned to the assassination of Colonel Madjoulba, questioned the author of the murder before publishing a letter whose authorship is attributed to the President of the Constitutional Court, Abdou Assouma. His newspaper had been suspended for 3 months from publication by the HAAC.