Man sentenced to 3 yrs in jail for insulting Magufuli

Jun 09, 2016

40 year old Issac Abakuki was on Wednesday convicted for posting insults on Facebook

A Tanzanian man has been sentenced to three years in jail or pay a fine of TzSh 7m (UGX10.7m) after he was found guilty of insulting President John Magufuli on Facebook.

40 year old Issac Abakuki was on Wednesday convicted by the Arusha Resident Magistrate's Court after he admitted committing the offence.

Principal Resident Magistrate Augustino Rwezile said the accused was to pay TSh5 million and serve three years at the same time but reduced the punishment after a plea by the accused's lawyer.  He pay the TzSh7m penalty only in two installments.

The first instalment of Sh3 million is to be paid by July 8th and pay the balance by August 8th this year.

"If he fails to fulfill these requirements, he shall serve the jail term," Rwezile said.

Abakuki first appeared before the court last April for publishing abusive language against Magufuli has fallen into the trap of the widely condemned cybercrime law introduced last year.

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