Sierra Leone Drops Charges Against RTL Correspondent

sierra leone - Sierra Leone withdraws espionage charges against RTL News correspondent Sophie van Leeuwen, allowing her to return home to South Africa.

RTL Correspondent Cleared of Espionage Charges in Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone has dropped the accusations of espionage and lacking proper documentation against RTL Nieuws correspondent Sophie van Leeuwen. Van Leeuwen, who was detained near Freetown on suspicion of espionage, has left the country and can now return home to South Africa, as reported by RTL Nieuws.

The journalist was extensively interrogated by the criminal intelligence service agents on Thursday and Friday. Her temporary accommodation and belongings were searched, her passport and equipment were confiscated for investigation, and although she has since retrieved them, two memory cards were seized and video material on her laptop was deleted by the police for 'security reasons'.

Van Leeuwen was reporting on the case of Jos Leijdekkers (Bolle Jos) in Sierra Leone, who was recently confirmed to be staying in the West African country. She had obtained permission from local authorities for her journalistic activities, as previously stated by RTL Nieuws.

RTL Nieuws editor-in-chief Ilse Openneer expressed relief at the dropped charges, stating, 'It is good that the local authorities also realize that there is no basis for an espionage charge. We hope Sophie will be back home with her family in South Africa soon.'