Guatemala: Prosecutor’s Office Announces New Case Against Owner of Opposition Newspaper

The Prosecutor’s Office Guatemala announced this Thursday a second criminal case against the owner of an opposition newspaper to the government, Jose Ruben Zamorawho will face a controversial trial in May for alleged money laundering.

Zamora, president of The newspaper and imprisoned since last July, was pointed out in this new case of participating in a “possible conspiracy” to “block up” an investigation against him also for money laundering, said prosecutor Rafael Curruchiche in a video posted on his Twitter account.

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Curruchiche, head of the Special Prosecutor Against Impunity (FECI), indicated that Zamora and others involved “They met [en 2021] to plan the diversion of the investigation” of a possible laundering of some 25,000 in 2013 through the company Aldea Global, parent company of the newspaper.

However, he did not detail how the money got to the media outlet.

The “possible involved” I know “alarmed” after the dismissal in July 2021 of the then head of the FECI, John Francis Sandovalthe entity that carried out the investigation, he said.

For the case, this Tuesday he was arrested mario castanedaone of Zamora’s lawyers and the capture of Roberto Montoyaalso part of the journalist’s defense team, indicated Curruchiche.

Zamora was summoned to testify for the new process on January 31 along with Flora Silvaformer financial director of the newspaper, who in December was sentenced to three commutable years in prison in an abbreviated process for accepting the charge of money laundering in the first accusation against the journalist.

According to that accusation, Zamora participated in a blackmail and money laundering scheme against businessmen in exchange for not publishing information against him for about $37,500. The start of the controversial trial was scheduled for May 2.

Zamora, 66, maintains that he is a “political persecuted” and that his case was fabricated by the president, Alejandro Giammatteiand the attorney general, consuelo porrasto silence him for posts about corruption.

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USA in 2021 he included Porras on a list of those involved in acts of corruption or that undermine democracy after firing Sandoval, considered by Washington as a “anti-corruption champion”.

Curruchiche was also included in the same list last year.

Zamora’s arrest is considered by various sectors as an attack against freedom of expression and caused concern in the international community. His capture followed the arrest and prosecution of several former prosecutors who investigated corruption cases.

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.