Trial of New York Times freelancer accused of smuggling colleagues into Zimbabwe wraps up

A contract journalist has pleaded not responsible for smuggling two different journalist into Zimbabwe.

The trial in Zimbabwe of New York Occasions freelancer Jeffrey Moyo, accused of arranging faux accreditation for 2 colleagues, ended Monday together with his attorneys looking for to have the case dismissed.

Jeffrey Moyo, 37, was arrested in Might final 12 months on allegations of offering faux media accreditation playing cards to South Africa-based NYT reporters Christina Goldbaum and Joao Silva so they may enter neighouring Zimbabwe for a week-long project.

Moyo was launched on bail three weeks later, whereas the NYT pair had been expelled again to South Africa 4 days after their arrival.

The Zimbabwe Media Fee (ZMC), which is chargeable for issuing media accreditation, claimed the journalists had been denied clearance to work within the nation and that their names didn’t seem on their accreditation register.

READ | NYT freelancer pleads not responsible to smuggling journalists into Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe has a historical past of thorny relations with the international press.

It launched laws within the early 2000s barring international journalists from working within the nation for lengthy intervals and requiring them to hunt accreditation for each project. The legislation has since been scrapped, however accompanying rules stay on the books.

A senior ZMC official, Academy Chinamhora, advised the courtroom that the duo had not obtained written approval from the data ministry as is customary follow.

However the defence argued that the ZMC is an autonomous physique empowered to make impartial choices with out interference from the data ministry.

Ruling is anticipated on 7 March.