Guatemala: Imprisoned Journalist Juan Ruben Zamora Finally Released After 2 Years

Award-winning Guatemalan journalist Jose Ruben Zamora, a prominent critic of former President Alejandro Giammattei, is finally a free man after two years of imprisonment. A judge ordered his release on Wednesday but was forced to pay a bond worth about $4,800. His release was conditional.

The move was lauded by press freedom critics, as well as human rights groups, with Zamora stating during the hearing where he was ordered to be released, "During my entire life I have been the victim of attacks, abductions, aggressions for the work that I do."

"It is the least I can do," former Guatemala Human Rights Ombudsman stated. He was the one who guaranteed that Zamora would not flee and appear in future proceedings.

"I know him and I know that he will continue facing the process against him," Duque added.

The Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights group released a statement regarding Zamora's release, stating that this represented "a positive first step in the series of legal proceedings unjustly linked to the journalist." Zamora was then called "a beacon of courage and journalistic ethics for over 30 years."

However, the Daily Beast pointed out that while Zamora was ordered to be released, this did not immediately happen as he still has two other cases against him.

Guatemala Journalist Jose Ruben Zamora Was Arrested for Alleged Tax Evasion

Zamora is the founder of El Periodico newspaper and he was in prison for two years now. He was previously sentenced to six years in prison last June over alleged money laundering. In his release ruling, the judge found that there was no longer justification to keep him in jail and noted that he was not a flight risk, nor was he a threat to the investigation.

According to the Associated Press, he was accused of money laundering after he asked a friend to deposit a $38,000 donation to keep the newspaper running instead of depositing the money. Zamora argued that he did this because that donor did not want to be identified supporting an outlet that then-President Giammattei had been targeting over the constant criticisms against his government.

Critics of the former administration, including press freedom and human rights groups, have decried the case against the award-winning Guatemalan journalist, saying his imprisonment was politically motivated.

Press Freedom Group Says Case of Guatemala Journalist Jose Ruben Zamora Had Many Irregularities

One of the loudest groups that called for the release of Jose Ruben Zamora was the Committee to Protect Journalists, which released a statement after the court hearing that led to the journalist being ordered to be set free.

"We urge Guatemala's judiciary to grant house arrest to José Rubén Zamora after nearly two years in solitary confinement and to give him the chance to prove his innocence in court," said the group in a statement. "His ongoing imprisonment amounts to arbitrary detention and demands immediate action. Zamora must have the right to a fair trial and to practice journalism freely."

The group added that there have been "documented severe irregularities" in the trial as there were "repeated delays in court proceedings, limited access to evidence, and challenges in maintaining legal representation as his lawyers have been harassed and jailed."

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: "Doing Journalism Is a Crime": Guatemalan Publisher José Rubén Zamora Faces 40 Years Behind Bars - Democracy Now!