"Journalist and founder of elPeriódico, José Rubén Zamora, has denounced a new attempt to criminally prosecute and imprison him. The journalist said that the public prosecutor's office is reportedly seeking to push for a new arrest warrant related to journalistic investigations published in 2021 concerning the case known as 'La Alfombra Mágica.' This case was publicly linked to alleged bribery claims raised during the administration of Alejandro Giammattei.
According to Zamora, the prosecution seeks to charge him with offenses related to the alleged disclosure of confidential or restricted information stemming from articles published by the now-defunct newspaper elPeriódico. The journalist maintains that these allegations lack legal basis within the scope of journalistic practice and aim to criminalize investigations of public interest.
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[Currently under house arrest, previously] Zamora remained in prison for more than 1,290 days, facing two criminal proceedings that, as his defense alleged, were marked by constant delays and restrictions on his rights. During that time, Zamora was transferred on various occasions to courts and medical facilities, while national and international organizations raised concerns regarding his detention conditions and the case's impact on freedom of the press in Guatemala."
