Obama ‘Gravely Concerned’ About Reporter’s Safety; Ahmadinejad Intervenes on Behalf of Jailed Journalist
April 20, 2009
- Japan Says Jailing of Japanese American Journalist ‘Regrettable,’ freeroxana.net
- Why Did Ahmadinejad Help Roxana Saberi? TIME
‘Minerva’ Acquitted
April 20, 2009
SEOUL, South Korea—A young Internet blogger whose bold predictions rocked this country’s financial markets last year has been acquitted of charges he spread false information about President Lee Myung-bak’s economic policies.
The Central District Court Monday declared controversial pundit Park Dae-sung, who wrote blog posts using the moniker “Minerva,” not guilty of all charges, The Korea Times reports.
Park Dae-sung, 31, was arrested in early January and was indicted on charges of spreading online rumors that the government ordered local banks not to buy U.S. dollars as part of efforts to stabilize the local currency.
The Minerva trial garnered international attention. On the eve of the sentencing, Reporters Without Borders called on the court to acquit Park, claiming that punishment against the blogger will make Korea’s judicial system “an accomplice to a government strategy designed to intimidate Internet users who express their views on financial subjects,” The JoongAhn Daily reported
