A Guatemalan judge opened a criminal proceeding this Friday against Juan Carlos Marroquín Godoy, for the alleged crime of obstruction of criminal proceedings in the proceeding against his cousin, the renowned journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín.
According to Judge Sergio Mena, head of the Seventh Court of First Instance of the Guatemalan Judiciary, there are sufficient indications for Marroquín Godoy to be investigated by the Public ministry (MP).
Read also: Trial begins against journalist José Rubén Zamora
Marroquín Godoy is accused by the Prosecutor’s Office within the criminal proceeding of alleged money laundering that is taking place against the journalist Zamora Marroquín, who has been detained in a prison since July 29, 2022.
The journalist’s cousin was arrested on April 27 and, together with two lawyers, they accuse him of allegedly trying to justify an irregular contract of $25,000 linked to Zamora Marroquín.
At this Friday’s hearing, Marroquín Godoy asked Judge Mena to submit to the acceptance of charges law to obtain an abbreviated process.
Prior to his arrest, Marroquín Godoy, the journalist’s cousin, worked as a communications adviser to the Vice President of Guatemala, Guillermo Castillo.
Juan Carlos Marroquín Godoy is linked to criminal proceedings for hindering criminal proceedings. His defense lawyers have asked the Seventh Penal Judge, Sergio Mena, to accept the figure of acceptance of charges. pic.twitter.com/90SUdQFsbV
— Edwin Peter (@Epitan_PL) May 5, 2023
Trial against José Zamora
This week, the debate began against the journalist Zamora Marroquín, who has warned that he is a “political prisoner” arguing that his arrest, more than nine months ago, was because his media outlet, El Periódico, has denounced the corruption of the President’s government Alejandro Giammattei.
The cases against Zamora Marroquín, his lawyers and family members are led by the Public Ministry prosecutor, Rafael Curruchiche, who was sanctioned by the United States Department of State in 2022 for formulating alleged criminal proceedings against anti-corruption prosecutors and judges in the Central American country.
On April 25, the Inter-American Press Association (SIP) assured through a report that the actions that the Guatemalan Prosecutor’s Office has taken against Zamora Marroquín “degrade the freedom of the press” from the Central American country.
In 2021, Zamora Marroquín received from the King of Spain, Felipe VI, the prize for the outstanding medium in Ibero-America, for the investigative work that El Periódico has carried out for almost 30 years. EFE
