(Ecofin Agency) - In Cote d’Ivoire, Marcel Dezogno, a journalist, was arrested and put in custody at the military prison of Abidjan on February 8, 2016.

He was arrested for having his phone ring during a court audience at military tribunal of Abidjan in the framework of the case of murder of former president, the late Robert Guéi.

Tribunal’s president, Tahirou Dembelé, said the journalist disturbed the audience. The judge hence immediately ordered for his arrest. Marcel Dezogno, who works at the daily L.G. Infos, was released at the end of the day.

Cote d’Ivoire’s National Union for Private Press (Synappci) expressed in a release its support to the journalist and condemned the decision of Judge Tahirou Dembelé. The union talked about a “clear intent by Judge Tahirou to intimidate and humiliate” the journalist. Nevertheless, the union calls “all journalists and media professionals to show professionalism when searching, collecting and processing information”.