In a surprising turn of events, the presiding judge of the Ninth Sentencing Court, Vernica Ruiz, ruled in favor of journalist José Rubén Zamora’s release from jail for a money laundering case. However, despite his acquittal in this case, Zamora will remain behind bars for another judicial proceeding where he is accused of conspiracy to obstruct justice and using false documents.
In her ruling, Judge Ruiz granted Zamora house arrest after he paid a bail of 30,000 quetzales (3,750 euros). The judge deemed there was no risk of flight or interference with the investigation into the truth. Despite his freedom from one case, Zamora will still be barred from leaving the country and must report regularly at the Public Ministry. He is also prohibited from communicating with those involved in the case.
In October last year, Guatemala’s Second Court of Appeals overturned a previous sentence that had sentenced Zamora to six years in prison for money laundering. The court ordered a retrial against him due to allegations that he had been involved in actions related to money laundering.
Throughout his career as founder of The Newspaper in Guatemala, Zamora has faced numerous legal challenges due to his investigative journalism work that exposed corruption and human rights abuses in the country. He has been subjected to persecution and threats from high-ranking government officials due to his dedication to revealing corruption.
Zamora’s release marks a small victory for him as he continues to fight for transparency and accountability in Guatemala. His work has earned him recognition and awards for his commitment to exposing corruption and upholding human rights standards in the country.
