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Alert

Court orders journalist's release

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 6 July 2010, the 20th Trial Court of Caracas' Metropolitan Area ordered the release of journalist Leocenis García, who had been detained without trial in the Tocuyito Prison, in the State of Carabobo, for two years and two months.

Pedro Aranguren, García's counsel, reported that the journalist was released as a result of an injunction.

The Tribunal has set 19 July as the tentative date for the beginning of the process. Aranguren, however, has stated that he will continue presenting appeals in an attempt to move the case to a different court.

On 30 June, before the tribunal's decision, the journalist began a hunger strike for an indefinite period of time. His objective was to force Judge Jesús Jiménez to withdraw from his case.

García did not receive any medical attention during his hunger strike. He was transferred to a health center on his release from prison since he had spent seven days without food.

The journalist's counsel reported that there have been several irregularities during the process.

IPYS will continue to closely monitor the development of the case. It also demands that the journalist's rights should be respected and calls for an impartial trial.