São Paulo, January 10, 2025—Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora could go back to jail this Monday if the country’s Supreme Court doesn’t agree to hear an appeal made by his defense, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Friday.
Zamora, 67, spent 813 days in prison, accused of money laundering, until he was granted house arrest on October 18, 2024. The following month, a Guatemalan appeals court ordered Zamora back to jail, but he has remained in house arrest until his appeal is heard.
“It’s inhumane what the Guatemalan judicial system is doing to journalist José Rubén Zamora,” said CPJ’s Latin American program coordinator, Cristina Zahar. “His presumption of innocence was shattered for more than two years when he was arbitrarily detained. He must be immediately released.”
In June 2023, Zamora was sentenced to six years imprisonment on money laundering charges, which were criticized as politically motivated.
CPJ has repeatedly urged the Guatemalan government to end Zamora’s prosecution and the harassment of his family and his journalist colleagues.
CPJ called the Supreme Court but didn’t get an immediate response.
This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists and was authored by CPJ Staff.
CPJ Staff | Radio Free (2025-01-10T18:01:04+00:00) José Rubén Zamora could be sent back to jail on January 13. Retrieved from https://www.radiofree.org/2025/01/10/jose-ruben-zamora-could-be-sent-back-to-jail-on-january-13/
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