Mexican television network Televisa requested the attorney general of Nicaragua invesitgate whether a current employee of the broadcaster signed the letter of accreditation presented by 18 Mexicans accused of money laundering while impersonating journalists in the Central American country, according to El Siglo de Torreón. Nicaraguan authorities charged the Mexicans who posed as Televisa reporters and tried to enter the country on Aug. 20 without declaring $9.2 million.
The fake reporters presented Nicaraguan authorities with letters containing orders and authorization to conduct a journalistic investigation supposedly signed by Amador Narcia, vice president of news for Televisa, according to Proceso.
The Mexican attorney general ordered handwriting experts to determine whether the signature that appears on the letters belongs to the journalist, who has denied any involvement in the case, reported the newspaper La Jornada.
Earlier, the Mexico City prosecutor determined that Narcia's supposed signature was a forgery on documents used in 2007 to register vehicles in the network's name, according to Proceso.
Currently, the 18 Mexicans face two charges: one for money laundering and organized crime and another for the unauthorized use of Televia's logo and brand, according to La Jornada. Televisa hired lawyers in Nicaragua to follow the case and a company representative to assist the trial as an "observer," reported El Siglo de Torreón.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
