A Guatemalan decide has ordered the arrest of three legal professionals defending jailed journalist José Rubén Zamora
GUATEMALA CITY — A Guatemalan decide on Thursday ordered the arrest of three legal professionals defending jailed journalist José Rubén Zamora.
The announcement by prosecutors was the newest in a case that has drawn considerations about press freedom in Guatemala.
Zamora is the director of El Periódico, a newspaper that has revealed important articles about alleged corruption below President Alejandro Giammattei.
The award-winning editor was arrested 9 months in the past on costs of blackmail and cash laundering.
Prosecutors mentioned the decide issued arrest warrants for Zamora’s protection attorneys, together with lawyer Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa, an opposition activist. Foppa mentioned he was arrested whereas touring to the court docket to show himself in.
The legal professionals are accused of taking part within the alleged cash laundering by negotiating a gross sales contract for an art work to cowl up cash given to Zamora.
Press freedom teams have mentioned the prosecution of Zamora is politically motivated. His protection has maintained he acquired a $38,000 donation to maintain the paper afloat and requested a buddy to deposit it in a financial institution as a result of the donor didn’t wish to be recognized.
In February, a decide ordered an investigation of 9 journalists from El Periódico to find out whether or not they have been maliciously pursuing prosecutors, judges and different members of Guatemala’s justice system, thereby opening themselves as much as felony costs.
High prosecutor Cinthia Monterroso has argued that El Periódico revealed important tales about complaints, disciplinary processes and choices by justice officers, together with herself. She has mentioned the individuals who ordered such tales — and the sources of their financing — should be investigated.
