Arévalo visits journalist José Rubén Zamora after his release from prison

( Spanish) – The president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arévalo, visited journalist José Rubén Zamora at his residence this Monday, who was released from prison this Saturday and placed under house arrest.

The Presidency’s office reported that at the meeting they discussed several topics, in particular the relevance of Zamora’s release from prison as an opportunity to end what it called “political persecution in Guatemala and the release of those who still suffer from prison.” , the result of spurious investigations and arbitrary measures.”

In a statement, he added that Zamora recognized the actions of the Arévalo government – who maintains a long confrontation with the attorney general, Consuelo Porras – for respect for his rights during his imprisonment. He also expressed his gratitude for the role played by the Attorney General’s Office.

A Guatemalan court ordered this Friday that Zamora continue the criminal process for alleged obstruction of justice under this measure, since the time in prison has exceeded the deadlines established by law for a person to be declared guilty or innocent. The Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI) opposed the measure.

The journalist was arrested in July 2022 and in June 2023 a court sentenced him to six years in prison for money laundering and imposed a fine of just over US$38,000 for allegedly trying to introduce a similar sum into the financial system without justifying it. its origin. That conviction was annulled in October 2023 by a Court of Appeals that ordered the trial to be repeated, a procedure for which there is still no date.