Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Mugabe Bodyguards Won't Face Trial

Hong Kong - Bodyguards for the daughter of Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe who were accused of assaulting two journalists in Hong Kong will not face prosecution, an official said Tuesday.

Hong Kong's Department of Justice has decided against taking the two guards to court, a spokesperson said.

They were accused of attacking the photographers who were investigating a story on Robert Mugabe's assets in Asia in February.

The journalists were working on behalf of Britain's "Sunday Times" newspaper.

"In our review of the case it became clear that the (guards) were genuinely concerned for the safety of Miss (Bona) Mugabe," the justice department said in a statement.

The statement said that an independent lawyer had agreed that the case was "borderline" and the "public interest did not require a prosecution".

The two journalists, Colin Galloway and Tim O'Rourke, said the guards had held Galloway in a headlock and grabbed one of their cameras.

* News 24