7 April 2006

Alert

Arrest warrant issued for mayor and former court official accused of journalist's murder


Incident details

Alberto Rivera Fernández

journalist(s)

killed

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(IPYS/IFEX) - On 3 April 2006, the Coronel Portillo Criminal Court in Pucallpa, issued a warrant for the arrest of mayor Luis Valdez Villacorta and former court official Solio Ramírez Garay, alleged intellectual authors of the murder of journalist Alberto Rivera Fernández, which took place in April 2004. Both of the accused are on the run. Pucallpa is in the Ucayali region, eastern Peru.

Édgar Padilla Vásquez, the judge who presides over the court, changed a previously issued order that the accused appear before the court into an arrest warrant. The change was made due to, among other things, a statement by Lito Fasabi Pizango, material author of the crime, who assured the court that Valdez and Ramírez had hired him to commit the murder. The local police have not determined the whereabouts of either man, although it is believed that Valdez may have checked into one of the town's hospitals.

Rivera was murdered on 20 April 2004 in his office in Pucallpa with two shots to the chest. The journalist had criticized Valdez's administration and accused him of being linked to drug traffickers. Rivera's murderers and the men who contacted them have already been convicted and sentenced.



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Updates to this story

Mayor, municipal councillor acquitted of involvement in journalist's murder 21 November 2007

More on this case

Court acquits alleged masterminds of journalist's murder 14 May 2012 Supreme Court overturns acquittal of former mayor implicated in journalist's murder 3 February 2011 Ruling acquits alleged masterminds of journalist's murder 11 February 2010 Disciplinary proceedings initiated against four judges for mishandling trial that absolved suspected masterminds of journalist's murder 20 December 2007 Plot to kill witness in journalist's murder case uncovered 22 November 2006 Judge rescinds arrest orders for mayor and municipal councillor in radio presenter's murder 12 April 2006 IAPA pleased with sentencing of journalist's murderers 13 February 2006 Two municipal employees arrested in connection with journalist's murder 8 June 2004 IAPA asks attorney general to investigate complaints about handling of murdered journalist's case 31 May 2004 CPJ investigating whether journalist's murder was related to his journalistic work 26 April 2004 Journalist killed in Ucayali 22 April 2004

At a glance

Peru
Peru
 
Key reports and information
  • Midyear Meeting Report 2012: Peru

    Journalists attacked for revealing that "police had been extorting smugglers and drug traffickers who operate in the border area between Peru and Bolivia"

    Inter American Press Association 23 April 2012

  • Press Freedom Index 2011-2012: Peru

    "Peru, notorious for the frequency of attacks on the press"

    Reporters Without Borders 26 January 2012

  • World Report 2012: Peru

    Government introduces legislation to decriminalise defamation

    Human Rights Watch 23 January 2012

 
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