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Court postpones journalist Kabendera's hearing for eighth time

Wednesday November 20 2019
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Tanzanian investigative journalist Erick Kabendera arrives at the Kisutu Residents Magistrate Court in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, August 19, 2019. A Tanzanian court on November 20, 2019 postponed the hearing of his case for the eighth time. PHOTO | REUTERS

By REUTERS

Dar es Salaam,

A Tanzanian court on Wednesday postponed the hearing for the eighth time of a prominent Tanzanian journalist arrested in July.

Police arrested Dar es Salaam-based journalist Erick Kabendera in July and he was charged in August with leading organized crime, failing to pay taxes and money laundering.

Mr Kabendera’s lawyers reject the charges. His lawyers and rights groups say the case is politically motivated.

Mr Kabendera’s trial has not begun. At each of the eight hearings since August, prosecutors have told the court that investigations were not complete.

Last month, Kabendera’s lawyer Jebra Kambole told the court that he is pursuing a plea bargain. On Wednesday, Mr Kambole told the court that the process had not reached a conclusion.

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Rights groups say press freedom has nosedived since President John Magufuli took office in 2015. On his watch the government has shut newspapers and websites as well as arrested opposition leaders and restricted political rallies.

The government has rejected criticism that it is muzzling the media.

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