The law and libel

We know that things sometimes can get messier than imagined; that local officials sometimes forget there are limits to their authority; and, that the average citizen sometimes finds himself/herself defenseless in the face of abusive officials.

Still this appears too much. Eight villagers - seven, to be exact, for one is home on bail on ground of poor health - found themselves behind bars for disseminating information about alleged corruption by a village head. The charge is libel.

Libel as a criminal offense may qualify for imprisonment of less than three years, according to the Criminal Law. And the eight were sentenced to one to two years in jail. Which does not sound that bad.