An Omani court has released two journalists pending an appeal after they were given jail sentences for undermining the state, a colleague said yesterday.
Azamn newspaper editor-in-chief Ibrahim al-Maamari and his deputy Yousef al-Haj -- each sentenced to three years in jail -- were freed late Monday, said Zaher al-Abri, a third defendant who had already been released.
They paid 2,000 rials ($5,195) each to be bailed pending the hearing on November 7, he said.
Paris-based media rights group Reporters without Borders (RSF) said the court had reduced the bail amount from 50,000 rials ($130,000) each.
Abri was jailed for one year and fined 1,000 rials ($2,600), but he was released on bail in August, according to RSF.
Their newspaper remains shut after the court last month upheld a government order to permanently close it.
The trio were arrested in connection with their coverage of a case of alleged judicial corruption, RSF said.
Based on the charge sheet read out in court, the journalists were convicted of disturbing the public order, undermining the prestige of the state and misusing the internet, sources said.
Haj was convicted for publishing an interview with a senior judiciary official even after being ordered not to do so.
Maamari was the first of the three to be arrested on July 28, two days after the newspaper published an article which accused public officials of corruption and interference in judicial decisions.
