Guatemalan journalist receives house arrest after two years behind bars
Al Jazeera
Jose Ruben Zamora has been waiting for a retrial in a Guatemala City prison for more than 800 days, prompting outcry.
A prominent investigative journalist has been released to house arrest in Guatemala, after his case shone a light on questions of democratic backsliding in the country.
Jose Ruben Zamora, the award-winning founder of the newspaper El Periodico, had been imprisoned for more than 800 days as he awaits a retrial on money laundering charges.
But a judge on Friday decided that the legal system could no longer keep the journalist locked up as his case continues to wind through the courts.
“We are imposing house arrest,” Judge Erick Garcia ruled on Friday. Garcia added that Zamora will be forced to appear every eight days before authorities, to ensure his compliance. “He is also forbidden to leave the country without judicial authorization.”
Prior to his arrest and detention, Zamora had built a reputation as one of Guatemala’s foremost investigative journalists, launching investigations into corruption at the highest levels of government.
