PRESS RELEASE
IMC Complaints Committee Conducts Hearing on Six Complaints before the Commission at its Headquarters in Freetown.
The Complaints Committee of the Independent Media Commission (IMC) chaired by Emmanuel Saffa Abdulai Esq. on Friday 3rd June, 2022 conducted hearings on six matters before the Commission as follows:
Alpha Sesay Vs. Standard Times Newspaper.
In this matter, complainant Alpha Sesay was represented by his legal team headed by Doris Mavis Kargbo of the Macauley, Bangura & Co, Barrister & Solicitors, Legal firm whilst Standard Times the Respondent newspaper was not present for the hearing. The matter was adjourned to Tuesday 7th June 2022, after which ruling will be given.
Abdul Rahman Mahdi Vs. Prime Times Newspaper
During the hearing, the complainant Abdul Rahman Mahdi was asked to restate his complaint in the presence of Kemoh Saidu Sesay the respondent editor of the said newspaper. Mr. Mahdi said he is aggrieved by the newspaper’s defamatory and slanderous contents relating to his person in its publication dated Wednesday 9th March 2022 with caption: “As Alleged…The Evil Trinity at RCB Scheming against the Managing Director”.
Responding to the complaint, the Editor Prime Times Newspaper Kemoh Saidu Sesay said he no longer stands by his publication; thereby informing the Committee that he had published a retraction to the said publication which copy was submitted to the Committee for verification. He also apologized to the complainant Abdul Rahman Mahdi. IMC rulings on this matter will be communicated as soon as possible.
Honourable Emmanuel Sahr Gbekie Vs. Tumac Radio FM 89.3
During the hearing on the complainant from Hon. Emmanuel Sahr Gbekie of constituency 116 against Tumac Radio FM 89.3 “Report Card” programme aired on Thursday 12th May 2022, in which the presenter Charley Mahoi alleged used insulting languages against the personality of the complainant, the Complainant informed the Complaints Committee that the matter had already been resolved and they were only at the Commission to withdraw the said complaint.
The committee respected the views of the complainant and admonished the presenter of the “Report Card” programme Mohamed Charlie Mahoi to be responsible in future programmes.
Daniel Kaitibie Vs. The Comment Newspaper
During the session, both complainant and respondent newspaper editor did not show up for the hearing. The committee was informed that the complainant Daniel Kaitibie had approached the Commission for withdrawal of the said matter which the Committee noted.
Lastly, the Editor of the Night Watch Newspaper Alpha Tholley was also invited by the Complaints Committee following a report from the Monitoring Unit on the newspaper’s front-page publication of Tuesday May 31st 2022, captioned ‘A Recipe for Coup’. The editor was warned by the committee against inflammatory headlines, and admonished to always use attribution in his stories for accuracy.
