Cameroonian security guards fined for manhandling Swiss journalist
Cameroonian President Paul Biya's stays at the Intercontinental Hotel in Geneva have brought protests from the diaspora of his country.
Keystone / Martial Trezzini
The Geneva Police Court on Friday found six members of Cameroonian President Paul Biya’s security service guilty of manhandling a Swiss journalist of public broadcaster RTS in June 2019.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/jc
Ruling on appeal, the police court gave them suspended fines, according to a report in Le Temps newspaper confirmed by the journalist’s lawyer. The Geneva Public Prosecutor’s Office had previously sentenced the bodyguards to suspended prison sentences.
The RTS journalist was covering a demonstration of opponents outside the Intercontinental Hotel, where head of state Biya was staying. He was slightly injured. The bodyguards also stripped him of his professional equipment and personal belongings.
The Cameroonian bodyguards argued that they had immunity and the case went all the way to the Federal Court, which ruled that the agents had not acted that day for the security of Biya.
Quoted by Le Temps, the Geneva public prosecutor Olivier Jornot said in court that a “strong signal is needed to remind those who hide behind a so-called diplomatic status they cannot act as they please”.
More
More
Swiss complain to Cameroon over ‘unacceptable’ journalist attack
This content was published on
Switzerland has complained to Cameroon following an attack on a Swiss public television journalist in Geneva on Wednesday.
EU Commission president says Swiss-EU deal is ‘historic’ agreement
This content was published on
At a joint media conference with Swiss President Viola Amherd in Bern, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen spoke of a "day of joy".
Switzerland and EU reach deal on future bilateral relations
This content was published on
Switzerland and the European Union have announced a political agreement to update their trading relationship after almost a decade of difficult talks.
Parliamentary inquiry on Credit Suisse collapse blames mismanagement
This content was published on
Credit Suisse's years of mismanagement were at the root of its downfall in March 2023, the parliamentary commission of inquiry concluded on Friday.
Cassis and Lavrov discuss the OSCE and the Ukrainian conflict
This content was published on
Russian and Swiss foreign ministers spoke about Switzerland's bid to chair the OSCE in 2026. They also discussed the Ukrainian conflict.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Cameroon’s Biya: Why the Swiss won’t stop his Geneva stays
This content was published on
Reports alleging Cameroon’s president Paul Biya runs his country from a Geneva hotel raise questions whether official Switzerland can intervene.
This content was published on
Switzerland is acting as a facilitator in the crisis in north-western and south-western Cameroon at the request of the parties involved.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.