21 November 2007

Alert

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


Incident details

Alberto Rivera Fernández

journalist(s)

killed

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(IPYS/IFEX) - On 14 November 2007, the First Criminal Bench of Ucayali's Superior Court acquitted the mayor of Pucallpa, Luis Valdez Villacorta, of the charges pending against him. The mayor had been accused of being behind the April 2004 murder of journalist Alberto Rivera Fernández, which took place in the Ucayali region, eastern Peru.

Solio Ramírez, a former municipal councillor and a close friend of the mayor, was also acquitted.
Lito Fasabi, also known as "Chino Lito", the hired killer who shot the journalist, was sentenced to 35 years in prison. Alex Panduro Ventura, also known as "Trolón", who also played a role in the murder and was Ramírez's former bodyguard, was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Between them they are required to pay 100,000 soles (approx. US$33,000) in damages.

Lawyers representing the state and the murdered journalist's relatives condemned the mayor's and Ramírez's acquittal. IPYS also voiced concerns about the verdict.



Source:

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad
Sucre N° 317
Barranco, Lima
Perú
alertas (@) ipys.org
Phone: +51 1 2474465
Fax: +51 1 2473194
 

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More on this case

Arrest warrant issued for mayor and former court official accused of journalist's murder 7 April 2006

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