22 November 2006

Alert

Plot to kill witness in journalist's murder case uncovered


Incident details

Alberto Rivera Fernández

journalist(s)

killed

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(IPYS/IFEX) - On 16 November 2006, staff at Peru's National Penitentiary Institute (Instituto Nacional Penitenciario del Perú, INPE) uncovered a plan to kill one of the men involved in the murder of journalist Alberto Rivera Fernández, which took place in April 2004 in the town of Pucallpa, northeastern Peru.

According to information published by the newspaper "El Comercio", Álex Panduro Ventura, a key witness to the homicide, was to be killed in the Pucallpa jail, where he is imprisoned. The individuals behind the plan have not been identified.

Prison authorities transferred Panduro to the same wing where another man involved in the crime is serving his sentence, Tercero Samuel Gonzáles. Gonzáles is also a witness in the trial of those accused of being the masterminds of the journalist's murder: Luis Valdez Villacorta, mayor of the province of Coronel Portillo, and former councillor Solio Ramírez Garay.

On 15 November Panduro stated to "El Comercio" that both Valdez and Ramírez Garay have much to answer for in relation to the crime.

Rivera was shot to death on 21 April 2004. The day before his murder, on his radio programme he had accused Valdez of being involved with drug trafficking.



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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 Judge rescinds arrest orders for mayor and municipal councillor in radio presenter's murder 12 April 2006 Arrest warrant issued for mayor and former court official accused of journalist's murder 7 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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