The UAE National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) announced Tuesday that a journalist from the local television station is facing a judicial process over a false story about five members of Covid-19’s circle of relatives who died.
A correspondent running for Abu Dhabi Sports Channel is one of two other people arrested pending an investigation by the prosecution, revealed in a series of tweets on NCEMA’s official Twitter page, sister post AB.com reported.
“The incident that aired on Abu Dhabi Sports Channel is fake and fabricated, the circle of relatives does not exist and the story is absolutely fictional,” said a tweet.
The prosecutor added in some other tweet: “We call on all media executives to take on their day-to-day work when it comes to covid19, social media pioneers in general and in particular, to keep our leaders’ efforts. And his competent authorities.”
NCEMA noted that since the Covid-19 outbreak, social media platforms have been inundated with rumors and misinformation, adding a layer in the opposite fight to the pandemic, adding that national media has played a vital role in information correction.
The prosecutor’s job said that “he will not be lenient with those who do not respect their duty and are irresponsible, we will apply the law with firmness and determination,” adding, “This incident has affected members of the Emirati community, citizens and residents, leaving them in a state of confusion and concern about the epidemic of the disease, all based on misinformation.”
He said his investigation into the incident is ongoing “to explain the scenario and the elements of the publication and the real motives of the crime.”