Togo says it has evidence against French documentary filmmakers
The Togolese government said it has “serious and corroborated evidence” in the case of two French documentary filmmakers and their Togolese coordinator, who were detained at the end of July. As France 24 reports, all three are being held on charges of making “false statements,” which they deny.
Togolese authorities’ position
Togo’s justice and security ministries commented on the case for the first time in a joint statement. They said the documentary team was detained on July 27 and had used a drone while working in areas that the authorities consider sensitive because of the threat of jihadist attacks.
According to the government, the filming permit was signed only by the Togolese coordinator, Fred Vedomey, and not by the French documentary filmmakers Gaël Mocaër and Sébastien Perez-Pezzani. The statement also claims that the permit was strictly limited to specifically designated areas and that there were “several violations” during the assignment. The authorities provided no details of these claims.
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Defense position
On August 17, the three detainees appeared before prosecutors together with their lawyer, Martial Akapo. He told AFP that his clients deny the charges brought against them.
Mocaër and Perez-Pezzani, together with Vedomey, were filming a documentary for France Télévisions. Reporters Without Borders called for the detainees’ immediate release and said that Perez-Pezzani has serious health problems and requires urgent treatment.
Patrice Luccini, head of Tony Comiti Productions, said that a Togolese doctor had warned of the risk of Perez-Pezzani developing sepsis. Luccini also said that the documentary filmmakers complied with the rules for working in the country, obtained filming permits and declared their equipment at customs.
