Former NDC Executive, 1 Other Fined For Attacking Journalist
The former Northern Regional Deputy Communication Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Iddrisu Hardi and his accomplice, Mumuni Osman, have been fined for attacking Abubakari Sadiq, a journalist with Dagbon FM in the Northern Region.
They were convicted by the Tamale District Court on the charges of conspiracy to commit crime, assault, unlawful entry and threat of death after pleading guilty.
The culprits were slapped with a ₵3, 600.00 fine or serve a custodial sentence of 18 months imprisonment in hard labour in default, a statement from the Ghana Police Service said on Wednesday.
They are reported to have paid the fine yesterday.
Background
The two were captured in a viral video storming the studio of Dagbon FM and walking straight up to the presenter who was seated and in the middle of a phone interview on May 3.
Mr Hardi grabbed the presenter’s shirt stock while the other attacker grabbed his right wrist to pull him out of his seat.
The second attacker is heard in the video saying, “Stop talking about him (referring to Hardi) else you will die for no reason.”
“What have I done,” the presenter retorted.
The attack was widely condemned by a section of Ghanaians including the Ministry of Information in a statement dated May 4.
The Ministry in the statement called on the Ghana Police Service and relevant stakeholders to investigate and prosecute the perpetrators.
It said their action is a dent to the already abysmal performance of the country when it comes to press freedom which reflects on the global Press freedom index.
On May 8, the police service announced their arrest.
