“Widespread condemnation has erupted in Yopal [capital of Colombia’s Casanare department], after former mayor Jhon Jairo Torres, known as ‘Jhon Calzones,’ harassed and assaulted El Nuevo Oriente newspaper director Martín Mesa while the journalist was at a restaurant in the city.
According to the Foundation for Freedom of the Press (FLIP, by its acronym in Spanish), the incident occurred while Mesa was at the restaurant with another journalist. The former mayor approached him to question him about investigations he had published concerning Torres, prompting the other journalist to begin recording.
‘The situation escalated until Jhon Jairo struck the journalist in the face and then left the premises following the reaction of others present,’ FLIP said.
[...]
Jhon Jairo Torres was elected mayor of Yopal in 2015 and was removed from office two years later after being sentenced to 45 months in prison for illegal urban development."
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