They investigate journalists from Guatemala's 'elPeriódico' and other media outlets

MADRID, 1 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Guatemala's Tenth Criminal Judge, Jimi Bremer, has ordered that journalists from the newspaper 'elPeriódico' and other media outlets be investigated for obstruction of justice, within the framework of the judicial process against the president of that same newspaper, Jose Rubén Zamora Marroquín, in provisional prison since July 2022 for an alleged crime of money laundering.

The justice system thus accepted the request of the public prosecutor, Cinthya Monterroso, who has accused the journalists of obstructing justice in the investigation, as well as of collaborating with Zamora, who has declared that freedom of the press does not allow journalists to journalists hinder a judicial process.

"They have dedicated themselves, Mr. Zamora Marroquín in collusion, to misinform and generate hatred in public opinion, not to inform, not a journalistic work for which so many people have sacrificed their lives in the history of journalism, not an ethical work , but rather a task of obstructing the investigation," he declared.

Journalists Rony Ríos, Alexander Valdéz, Cristian Velix, Denis Aguilar and Gerson Ortiz are being investigated, some of whom now work for other media outlets. Zamora is also accused of this charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice, thus opening a second trial against the journalist, whose trial is scheduled for May.

The editors of 'elPeriódico' have published a statement in response, expressing their "rejection of the intentions to criminalize the independent press." "While 'elPeriódico' journalists show their faces to keep the Guatemalan people informed, the government of Alejandro Giammattei criminalizes and intends to destroy freedom of expression in the country," the workers have claimed.

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on the Guatemalan authorities to stop the investigation and allow the newspaper's workers "to work freely."

"Authorities are targeting the publication's workers after Zamora's arrest on dubious economic charges, that's a clear attempt by prosecutors to intimidate and harass an investigative outlet and journalists who are working tirelessly to uncover corruption cases," read a statement.