Belgian photojournalist cleared in India after 85-day ordeal
Belgian freelance photojournalist Simon Clément has been fully acquitted by a court in Aizawl, India, news publication Apache reports. He is now free to leave the country, following an 85-day legal ordeal.
Clément was arrested on 5 March at Lengpui Airport in Mizoram after Indian authorities discovered an empty bullet casing in his hand luggage. He was charged with possession of ammunition and breaching visa rules, as he was travelling on a tourist visa.
After spending 17 days in police custody and prison, Clément was released on 21 March but barred from leaving India pending trial. Monday’s ruling clears him of all charges.
According to his lawyer, Clément was wrongfully detained. The court found that Indian arms legislation explicitly exempts empty casings and that the requirement for a special permit to enter Mizoram, designated a “protected area” in late March, did not apply retroactively to Clément’s case, as his arrest predated the regulation.
The defence now plans to seek compensation for wrongful detention. “My lawyer is handling it,” said Clément, who did not receive formal support from the Belgian embassy.
He must now apply for an exit permit in New Delhi before returning to
The Indo-Myanmar border in Mizoram, India © PHOTO AFP / SAJJAD HUSSAIN