Guatemalan court convicts high-profile journalist of money laundering

A Guatemalan court on Wednesday convicted one of the country’s most famous journalists of money laundering and sentenced him to six years in prison in a case press freedom groups said sent a chilling message to the country’s journalists. .

Prosecutors bringing the case against José Rubén Zamora, a journalist and businessman, had sought a higher than normal prison sentence of 40 years, which they said was warranted because he had “disrespected the authorities”. The court on Wednesday acquitted him of the charge of blackmail and influence.

Carlos Martínez de la Serna, program director of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said: “The shameful conviction and imprisonment of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora serves as a clear testament to the erosion of freedom of speech in the country. The Guatemalan authorities must end the absurd drama of the criminal proceedings against him.

The detention of Zamora, a prominent government critic whose newspaper wrote extensively about corruption, drew concern and condemnation from international human rights organizations.

He has said that the charges against him were filed in retaliation for stories published by his newspaper, which alleged corruption by the government of President Alejandro Giammattei. The president has denied any role in the matter.

The trial sparked fear among the country’s journalists, some of whom are also working under criminal investigation. According to the collective #NoNosCallaran (#TheWillNotSilenceUs), more than 20 journalists have fled the country in the past year.

Zamora told the Financial Times days before the decision that the country was at risk of becoming a “tyrannical, fascist dictatorship”. He has said he will appeal against any sentence.

He has claimed that the case, centered on around ₹300,000 ($38,300) in cash that was laundered, was plagued with irregularities. Zamora was arrested within days of the original complaint, and the case was concluded in only a year in a country where proceedings often last for years. Prosecutors have also launched cases against his lawyers, family members and other journalists from his newspaper.

Prior to the verdict, Stephen Townley, legal director of the Clooney Foundation for Justice Trialwatch initiative, said Zamora’s attorneys had been weak from day one.

“International standards require that governments ensure that lawyers are able to perform their duties without intimidation or harassment,” he said.

Prosecutors said after the verdict that the trial followed all formalities and constitutional principles.

In the same ruling, former prosecutor Samari Gomez was acquitted of charges of leaking information after spending nearly a year in prison.

The US government had previously expressed concerns about key figures in Guatemala’s justice system. Washington’s list of undemocratic and corrupt actors includes the country’s attorney-general and chief anti-corruption prosecutor.