JoyNews reporter, Carlos Carlony, has given an account of how he was assaulted and detained by some National Security operatives while covering the demolition of a warehouse owned by businessman Daniel McKorley, popularly known as McDan.
Speaking on Joy FM’s Midday News after his release, Mr Carlony narrated that the incident started while he was interviewing an eyewitness at the scene.
“We got there before the military arrived and I was speaking to an eyewitness who had witnessed the demolition. From nowhere, we heard sirens coming, and the military just stormed the place and interrupted me during the interview,” he recalled.
Read also: Soldiers block JoyNews live coverage, assault civilian at McDan property demolition site
He explained that the soldiers questioned why he and his crew were filming. Carlos said he calmly informed them that they were journalists there to report the story.
“I told them we were journalists just telling the story. Beyond that, I tried to speak to the head of the team to let him understand that we were on the grounds to report,” he said.
Mr Carlony recounted that just as he was preparing to go on air and speaking with his producer, one of the soldiers approached him from behind.
“Around that time, we were to go on air, so I was speaking to my producer. And in the process of talking to my producer, another military man from behind said it seemed I was filming and so he punched me from behind, two direct blows to my neck,” he stated.
“At that point, I lost control and almost fell down.”
According to him, after the assault, the soldiers informed him that he was being taken away. He was forced into a vehicle along with the Group CEO of McDan and three others and driven to the National Security Headquarters.
“After all these things happened, they now said I would be arrested, and they pushed me into the vehicle together with the Group CEO of McDan and three others to the National Security Head Office,” he explained.
“They kept us there for about 45 minutes. They came in, monitored the room, and asked me questions. I told them I was from JoyNews. At this point, they had taken our phones and went through them.”
Read also: JoyNews reporter detained by National Security amid coverage of McDan warehouse demolition
He added that he was asked to write a statement, but he insisted on hearing from his boss first.
“They asked me to write a statement, and I told them I had to hear from my bosses before we take it from there,” he said.
“Briefly, that was what happened. There was no confrontation at all. We were actually filming when they came in and assaulted me.”
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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
