Journalist freed in fan trespass case
Reuters - Saturday 10 July 2010, 11:24
CAPE TOWN -
British tabloid journalist
Simon Wright had World Cup-related charges dropped on Saturday
after paying an admission of guilt fine ahead of his trial in
South Africa.
Sunday Mirror reporter Wright was arrested and charged with
helping Pavlos Joseph illegally enter the England dressing room
after their goalless draw against Algeria in Cape Town on June
18.
Joseph, media reports at
the time said, blasted the England
team for their performance.
However, after more than three hours of negotiations between
prosecutors and Wright's defence team on Saturday morning, the
main charge of attempting to defeat or obstruct the
administration of justice - or fraud - was dropped.
Wright will have a criminal record
after paying a 750 rand
($99.10) admission of guilt fine for contravening sections of
the Immigration Act by unlawfully registering under a false name
at a Cape Town hotel.
"The main count and first alternative count ... is removed
from the roll and the admission of guilt fine of 750 rand paid
in respect of the second alternative count is accepted,
therefore the matter is disposed of," magistrate Joe Magele
said.
South Africa's police
minister welcomed Saturday's outcome
as a "major victory" for the criminal justice system in Africa's
largest economy.
"Wright's
admission of guilt is indicative that some
journalists will do anything to get a story, even commit a
criminal act. We are a sovereign country, with laws that must be
upheld by all citizens, as well as all visitors," Minister Nathi
Mthethwa said in a statement from the National Joint Operational
and Intelligence Structure.
CONTRACTUAL AGREEMENT
According to the original charge
sheet, Wright was informed
by his London office about Joseph's identity and he set about
providing the Sunday Mirror with an exclusive interview.
Wright arranged to meet Joseph,
where a contractual
agreement was reached to give the paper an exclusive account of
his dressing room visit and to "provide and/or pose for
photographs in return for a payment of 35,000 pounds ($53,080)"
in the event the article was published.
Wright, say prosecutors, booked a
room for himself and
Joseph in the swanky five-star Bay Hotel under false names,
although he did provide his correct credit card and passport
details.
Wright's article,
which appeared on Sunday, June 20, raised
alarm bells around security at Africa's first hosting of the
world's most watched sports event.
"It was an embarrassing story for
them (South African
authorities) and that's why they've reacted in the way they
have," Wright told reporters outside the Cape Town magistrates
building where a special World Cup court heard the case.
"I got off a plane 10 days ago and
was swooped upon by half
a dozen South African police officers."
A visibly relieved Wright, who had
to surrender his passport
when arrested, said he felt treated unfairly when not allowed to
go home to prepare for his defence.
However, he said the Joseph
episode was a good story.
"For me as a journalist it was a good story. For English
newspaper readers it was a good story. I did my job. I did no
more than that," Wright said.
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