"In the ruling filed today in the Case of Moya Chacón et al. v. Costa Rica, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights found the State of Costa Rica internationally responsible for the violation of the right to freedom of thought and expression to the detriment of journalists Ronald Moya Chacón and Freddy Parrales Chaves, as a result of the imposition of a civil sentence for the publication of a press release on Dec. 17, 2005.
The aforementioned press release reported that in June 2005, a regional chief of the Public Force had abandoned a vehicle containing liquor merchandise on the border with Panama, without 'legal reasons' for it. Then, in a section titled 'More cases,' the press release stated that this was not the only case in the southern part of the country. According to what was stated by the then Minister of Public Security, there were at least two other cases under investigation, pointing out that even police chiefs were involved (referring, inter alia, to Mr. J.C.T.R.) who could possibly be removed.
As a result of the publication, J.C.T.R., who at the time held the rank of Police Major and served as deputy chief of the San Vito de Coto Brus Command Delegation, filed a complaint against journalists Ronald Moya Chacón and Freddy Parrales Chaves, as well as against the then Minister of Public Security, opening a case for the crime of slander and 'defamation by the press.'"
