Journalists in Liberia believe that the arrest and detention of newspaper publisher Octavian Williams for a traffic offence was motivated by his newspaper's political coverage.
Williams, who runs a tabloid in Monrovia, The Nation Times, was detained by police on 2 July and accused of driving a car with a foreign licence plate and disorderly conduct.
The arrest followed a series of articles in Williams's paper alleging that Robert Sirleaf – the son and adviser to the president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – is an American citizen. The paper has also accused the president's family of looting state coffers.
Williams, having been denied bail, has been in custody since his arrest. He has appeared in court but police have repeatedly asked for more time to mount their case.
Media analysts and human rights activists believe the continued detention of Williams is a means of settling scores with him.
The Centre for Media Studies and Peacebuilding (CEMESP) has described the action of the police as a calculated ploy to clamp down on critical views.
Sources: IFEX/AllAfrica.com
