Award-Winning Journalist José Rubén Zamora Sentenced to Six Years in Prison for Money Laundering
A Guatemalan court handed journalist José Rubén Zamora a six-year prison sentence for the offense of money laundering. Zamora, the founder of renowned newspaper El Periódico, has long been a vocal critic of President Alejandro Giammattei’s government, using his platform to expose corruption within the country’s politics.
Judge Otto Valvert announced the verdict, stating, “José Rubén Zamora Marroquín is sentenced to six uncommutable years in prison.”
The Prosecutor’s Office sought a 40-year sentence for Zamora, and they have declared their intention to appeal the court’s ruling.
Despite not being allowed to present evidence in his favor, Zamora plans to appeal the decision against him. During the trial, the journalist faced accusations of money laundering, which led to his conviction, as well as charges of extortion and influence peddling that could not be substantiated.
Notably, the court prevented Zamora from reading a document containing his defense and only granted him a limited time to address the judge.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) strongly condemned the ruling, describing it as a “shameful testament to the erosion of freedom of expression in the country and the government’s desperate attempts to criminalize journalism.” Carlos Martínez de la Serna, CPJ program director, expressed their concerns in a statement.
The Inter-American Press Association (SIP) condemned Zamora’s severe sentencing, denouncing it as an act of ruthlessness against journalism. They urged the Guatemalan Government to abandon its intimidating stance towards journalism and refrain from further harming democracy in the country, according to SIP president Michael Greenspon.
Recognized as one of the region’s most esteemed journalists, Zamora has been known for his fearless investigations into abuses of power, exposing numerous corruption cases.
The 66-year-old journalist initially pursued studies in engineering, as well as political and social sciences. At the young age of 17, he embarked on his journalism career at the renowned daily publication, The Time. In 1986, Zamora established a documentary and news production company, followed by the founding of Siglo Veintiuno, a newspaper that exposed the corruption within President Jorge Serrano’s government (1991-1993).
In 1993, Guatemala faced a constitutional crisis known as the “Serranazo.” In response to the ensuing persecution, Zamora temporarily renamed his newspaper to the Fourteenth Century and printed news stories covered by large black blocks, symbolizing press censorship. To circumvent the gag order, Zamora ingeniously faxed uncensored versions of the news to neighboring countries, effectively contributing to the downfall of the Serrano government and the restoration of democracy.
Zamora has paid a high price for his investigative journalism, enduring countless threats and surviving multiple assassination attempts, including a grenade attack in 1996.
Nevertheless, these obstacles did not deter Zamora from pursuing his craft. In 1996, he founded the esteemed daily newspaper, The Newspaper, which unfortunately ceased publication on May 15 due to political and financial pressures exerted by the Giammattei government.
Zamora expressed concerns for his family’s safety after leaving the court on Wednesday, revealing that his son is currently in exile with an arrest warrant in Guatemala, while his wife recently fled to the United States to evade possible capture.
According to Zamora’s family, the journalist’s current persecution and imprisonment stem from his publication of an investigative piece known as “The Russian Plot,” which alleged that President Giammattei accepted bribes from Russian businessmen in exchange for favors concerning large-scale projects.
Various national and international organizations dedicated to defending press freedom and human rights have condemned the case against Zamora, considering it as an attempt to criminalize journalism in Guatemala. They have fervently called for his immediate release.
Zamora’s unwavering commitment to his craft has garnered him numerous accolades, including the prestigious María Moors Cabot Award from Columbia University, the International Press Freedom Award, and the World Press Freedom Hero Award from the International Press Institute.
