Association of Media Development in South Sudan or ADMISS chairperson said they were shocked to discover defamation cases in media are treated criminal instead of civil as provided in original media bills presented to the National Legislature.
Alfred Taban told a media get together gathering that the change of defamation from civil to criminal case was a big shock to the media fraternity because parliamentary debates were in favour of the original provision.
He demanded lawmakers to explain how the change of defamation case from civil to criminal came about since defamation only deserves compensation for damages.
National Legislative Assembly head of information sub-committee Paul Yoane Bonju said it was very regrettable to notice such as a provision in a different form.
He vowed to follow it up with the Assembly Justice Committee for redress by the Augus House in accordance with legal expertise.
AMDISS discovered the change of defamation provision from civil to criminal case when a similar one was forwarded to police recently.