"Journalist Mercedes Agüero, a former reporter for the newspaper La Nación, testified Tuesday [July 29] in the trial over alleged influence peddling involving former San José mayor Johnny Araya and former prosecutors Celso Gamboa and Berenice Smith.
Agüero spoke about the process that led her to publish a report on the alleged removal of Araya’s name from a criminal case just ahead of the 2016 local elections.
During the trial, Gamboa’s defense team asked the court to order the journalist to reveal her confidential source, arguing it was necessary to clarify the facts. The court denied the request.
'Protecting journalistic sources is a fundamental right, guaranteed by the Constitution and by international treaties. It stems from freedom of expression, the right to information, and democratic pluralism,' the judges concluded."
