Guatemala: Anti-Corruption Prosecutor Sentenced to Four Years in Prison in Controversial Trial

a court of Guatemala condemned this Friday the anti-corruption prosecutor Virginia Laparra to four years in prison in a controversial and accelerated trial, in a sentence criticized by human rights organizations.

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Judge Oly González announced that Laparra “is responsible to the degree of author of the crime of abuse of authority on a continuous basis committed against the public administration […] and the penalty is imposed four years from prison switchable”.

“It is a legal aberration and a terrible precedent”declared Laparra crying, who has 10 months in prison but he may be released early if he pays a bond, as it is a commutable sentence.

The judgment It lasted barely 18 days and all those who testified were police officers or civil servants, as well as a controversial judge who was investigated by the defendant before falling out of favor and being arrested on February 23.

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The court also disqualified Laparra from holding public office while serving her sentence, but she will be able to practice as a lawyer, a setback for the prosecution that had asked to disqualify her completely and that she be sentenced to eight years in prison immutable.

“This conviction is one more example of the criminalization of justice operators in Guatemala […]. Virginia Laparra is a prisoner of conscience who is paying a high price for carrying out her work as a fiscal anti-corruption”reacted the director for the Americas of Amnesty International, Ericka Guevara Rosas.

Source: Elcomercio

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I am Jack Morton and I work in 24 News Recorder. I mostly cover world news and I have also authored 24 news recorder. I find this work highly interesting and it allows me to keep up with current events happening around the world.