A decision by Bulgaria November 22 to charge BBC investigative reporter Justin Rowlatt with using a concealed camera without permission during the BBC television documentary “Buying the Games”, as well as “inciting corruption”, has been deplored by the group Reporters Without Borders.
The Sofia prosecutor’s office opened a preliminary investigation against Rowlatt on November 19.
Reporters Without Borders said in a statement, “Article 339 (a) of Bulgaria’s criminal code, declaring use of a concealed camera to be an act of espionage is absurd and archaic and imposes a disproportionately severe sanction on what is standard practice among investigative journalists”.
The organization said it was also “unacceptable” to accuse journalists of inciting corruption when they work under cover to obtain information of public interest. “These obstacles to investigative journalism are likely to harm Bulgaria’s image at a time when negotiations to join the European Union are under way”.
In the BBC television documentary Rowlatt used a hidden camera and passed himself off as a businessman ready to bribe Ivan Slavkov, a Bulgarian member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in return for support for London’s bid to host the 2012 Games.
Meanwhile, Goran Takac, the Serbian-based sports agent who was accused in the documentary of corruption, claims he has been offered an out-of-court settlement by the BBC.
Takac said he got involved in the offer of the make-believe business consultants because he was determined to reveal the real corrupters.
Takac was one of the agents implicated in “Buying the Games” who were declared “persona non grata” by the IOC.
