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Morocco rapper, Toto, given eight months suspended jail term for threatening Belgian journalist

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Controversial Moroccan rapper, ElGrande Toto, has been given an eight months suspended jail term for allegedly insulting and threatening a Belgium-based journalist with “insults, defamation and threats”, his lawyer, Abdelfattah Zahrach, told reporters in Friday.

ElGrande Toto, whose real name is Taha Fahssi, was accused of threatening the journalist in an online row after the star made controversial comments about cannabis last year which got him into trouble.

The Casablanca-born 26-year-old rapper who is unarguably the biggest musician in the North African country, reportedly told the journalist in an Instagram post:

“We’ll meet in Belgium and you won’t know what happened to you.”

The suspended jail term, according to the lawyer, comes with a fine of w50 000 dirhams ($4 900) to be paid in damages, Zahrach said.

Zahrach said that though he was “partly satisfied” by the ruling, he however objected to the requirement to pay compensation.

“Toto has not committed any criminal act against the plaintiff,” the lawyer said, adding that they would discuss whether to appeal.

The hiphop artist had sparked controversy in September when he told reporters after a concert:

“I smoke hash – so what?… It doesn’t mean I set a bad example.”

His remarks had triggered anger in Morocco, a conversative country which has banned the recreational use of the drug despite being its biggest producer.

He was accused of “inciting drug use, defamation”, but he later tendered public apology to people he felt were “offended” by the comments.

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Wife of Zambian music star Yo Maps sues businessman over alleged cyberbullying

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The wife of Zambian music sensation, Elton Mulenga, popularly known as Yo Maps, Kidist Kifle, has sued a Lusaka-based businessman over alleged cyberbullying and hate speech.

Kifle, who is a socialite in her own right, filed the case at the Lusaka Magistrates Court against the businessman, Elias Musyani, alleging that he had referred to her as a prostitute, and threatened to rape her.

In the lawsuit filed on her behalf by her lawyers, Nsapato & Co. Advocates, Kifle also alleged that Musyani had threatened to abduct their infant daughter in one of his Facebook postings.

The suit notes that Musyani is facing four counts of harassment utilizing electronic means contrary to Section 69 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, 2021.

He is also charged with hate speech contrary to Section 65 of the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes, 2021.

An affidavit accompanying the lawsuit allege that Musyani, “between March 1 and April 16, by using electronic communications through his Facebook page in his name, intentionally intimidated, harassed or caused emotional distress to Kidist.”

The affidavit signed by the complainant lamented that the accused, in one of his Facebook postings, alleged that she was promiscuous and unfit to be a wife.

Part of the affidavit said:

“That I am aware that the accused has on several dates between March 1 and April 15, 2024, posted several social media posts on his Facebook using his personal account under his name, Elias Musyani, to the effect I am a prostitute, an evil step-mum.

“He has gone as far as threatening rape on me and abduction of my infant daughter.”

She added that the accused in one of his posts threatened her husband, Yo Maps and insulted her mother, actions which she said constituted cyber bullying and hate speech.

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Survey ranks Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa among 15 ‘cheap countries’ for family trips

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A recent survey carried out by Insider Monkey, an investment website that tracks corporate insiders and hedge funds, has ranked Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco and South Africa among 15 “cheap countries” to visit with family.

The Insider Monkey’s affordable countries list features Egypt as the top cheapest country for family trips while Ethiopia is in fifth place on the survey report, with Morocco ranking in eighth position while South Africa comes in at 15th place.

Giving a breakdown of what it will cost for a family vacation in the listed countries, the report say a one week trip for two people would cost as little as $935 in the listed countries to visit.

According to the survey, the second cheapest country for family trips is India, while Serbia and Colombia are ranked third and fourth, respectively.

“Ethiopia is the fifth in the list, while Poland and Russia are the sixth,and seventh, respectively,” the report said.

“South Africa ranks 15th, behind Romania (14th), Hungary (13th), Panama (11th), Albania (10th), and Bulgaria (9th),” the report stated.

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