Guatemala appeals court verdict could see publisher returned to prison

WASHINGTON — 

The Guatemalan writer Jose Ruben Zamora could beryllium returned to situation aft an appeals tribunal Friday overturned an bid that had moved him into location arrest.

Zamora, who is the laminitis of the paper El Periodico, had been detained connected questionable grounds for 2 years earlier being granted location apprehension successful October.

But prosecutors appealed the order, and Friday the appeals tribunal ruled that Zamora, who is 68, should instrumentality to prison.

The journalist’s lad confirmed the appeals tribunal determination and said his father’s lawyers had been notified, according to The Associated Press.

Zamora was arrested successful July 2022 aft publishing an editorial successful his erstwhile media outlet El Periodico. He was convicted of wealth laundering. But past period an appeals tribunal overturned the condemnation and ordered a caller proceedings for 2025.

International groups astatine the clip said the accusation of wealth laundering and different charges leveled astatine him were successful effect to his media sum and reporting connected corruption successful the authorities of erstwhile President Alejandro Giammattei.

The United Nations Working Group connected Arbitrary Detention had successful July said that the imprisonment of the steadfast was a usurpation of planetary law.

Media watchdogs expressed alarm Friday astatine the appeals tribunal decision.

“The request for [Zamora’s] afloat and unconditional merchandise has ne'er been much urgent,” said Reporters Without Borders.

The Committee to Protect Journalists described the determination arsenic concerning connected societal media, and said, “We reiterate that judicial processes indispensable warrant just and impartial treatment, without becoming tools to soundlessness captious journalism.”

After his release, Zamora had told the AP helium believed his paper’s investigative enactment led him to beryllium targeted.

He said that the justness strategy remained co-opted and that helium was definite they would effort to find a mode to instrumentality him to jail.

The Guatemala Embassy successful Washington did not instantly respond to VOA’s petition for comment.

Some accusation successful this study is from The Associated Press.