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Alert

Journalist reports being the victim of an attempted poisoning

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 15 November 2011, Marco Bonifacio Sánchez, presenter of the "El Canillita" programme broadcast by the Turbo Mix radio and television station in Cajamarca, northern Peru, said he was the victim of an attempted poisoning perpetrated by unidentified individuals.

Bonifacio told IPYS that two men who appeared to be peasant farmers greeted him politely and congratulated him for his work as a journalist, offering him a glass of fruit juice. Bonifacio accepted and drank the juice, but a few minutes later he started to feel dizzy and had to ask for help when he felt he was going to pass out.
The journalist was taken to a medical clinic, where he was told he was suffering from "intoxication" caused by substances that had been added to the fruit juice.

Bonifacio said he has no suspicions as to who would want to harm him. However, he noted that he has recently reported on serious allegations about Cajamarca police officers.

IPYS calls on the police and the Public Prosecutor's Office to carry out a thorough investigation to find and punish those responsible for the actions against Bonificio.