that “[h]e never intended to offend the generals but was simply reporting on the suffering of
the Lundas people, whose evidence has not been challenged.” [3] Nevertheless, the
prosecutors determined that his statement “was an admission of guilt and called for him to
receive a suspended sentence.” [4]
[1] David Smith, Angolan Journalist Given Suspended Jail Term Over Blood Diamonds
Book, The Guardian, (May 28,
2015), http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/28/angolan-suspended-jail-blooddiamonds-rafael-marques-de-morais.
[2] Angola: Rights Activist Faces Outrages Trials, Human Rights Watch, (June 17, 2015),
https://www.hrw.org/news/2015/06/18/angola-rights-activists-face-outrageous-trials.
[3] David Smith, Angolan Journalist Given Suspended Jail Term Over Blood Diamonds
Book, The Guardian, (May 28, 2015),
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/may/28/angolan-suspended-jail-blood-diamondsrafael-marques-de-morais.
[4] Vicky Baker, Angolan Journalist Rafael Marques de Morais receives Six-Month
Suspended Sentence, Index on Censorship, (May 28, 2015),
https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2015/05/angolan-journalist-rafael-marques-de-moraisreceives-six-month-suspended-sentence/.

Decision Overview
The Angolan court convicted Marques de Morais for malicious prosecution. Even though
he and the generals had reached a settlement, the state prosecutors decided to continue
with the criminal charges and submitted his statement in evidence as a confession. The
state’s prosecution also requested that the court issue a suspended, one-month sentence
to Marques de Morais.
The court decided to deliver instead a six-month suspended sentence. The conviction was
for the crime of malicious prosecution because he had “intentionally submitted false
evidence.” [1] The judge also determined that Marques de Morais’s filing of a criminal
complaint against the generals “was criminal libel.” [2] The six-month sentence is
suspended for two years, in which if Marques de Morais “engages in any behaviour the
state deems as criminal, the sentence will be implemented.” [3] Marques de Morais has
appealed this sentence.
[1] Vicky Baker, Angolan Journalist Rafael Marques de Morais receives Six-Month
Suspended Sentence, Index on Censorship, (May 28, 2015),
https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2015/05/angolan-journalist-rafael-marques-de-morais-

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