The family of José Rubén Zamora, a well-known Guatemalan journalist, expressed their happiness on Saturday as he was moved to house arrest following over two years in prison. Zamora, the founder of El Periódico, a newspaper recognized for its investigative reporting on corruption, had been detained since July 2022 over allegations of money laundering.
José Carlos Zamora, his son, shared his thoughts on this significant event, stating, “Finally, he has the opportunity to defend himself as he should have, free from a baseless and abusive process. We are joyfully celebrating this long-awaited moment and are extremely thankful for the support and solidarity that sustained us. Although there is still much work to be done, this represents a victory for my father, our family, and press freedom in Guatemala.”
The decision to release Zamora to house arrest was made by Judge Erick García Alvarado, who mentioned that the preventive detention linked to one of the charges had expired. At 68 years old, Zamora faced significant legal hurdles, including a six-year prison term imposed in June 2023 for laundering nearly $38,000. Nevertheless, an appeals court annulled the sentence due to procedural errors, leaving Zamora awaiting a decision on a possible retrial.
International organizations had called for Zamora’s release, alleging that his imprisonment was a direct result of his bold investigations into corruption among the powerful elite. While in detention, Zamora reported enduring severe psychological stress, including prolonged isolation, lack of natural light, and frequent disturbances at night.
Upon his release, Zamora shared his mixed emotions of happiness and calmness with the press, mentioning his plans to seek medical treatment to regain his health. He also expressed dissatisfaction towards the prosecutor, Rafael Curruchiche, suggesting that attorneys from the prosecutor’s office might need more legal education.
Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo, who took office earlier this year, warmly welcomed Zamora’s release, stating on social media, “Zamora returns home. Justice seems to be on the horizon, and this dark chapter is poised to close.”
After investigations by the Guatemalan prosecutor’s office, eight journalists linked to El Periódico, founded in 1996, have left the country seeking safety. Initially sentenced to six years in prison due to the initial charges against him, Zamora’s situation became more complex as new cases emerged, delaying his immediate release despite the overturned sentence.
Curruchiche, the prosecutor overseeing Zamora’s case, expressed hope that the journalist would eventually face justice now that he is free. The developments surrounding Zamora’s case have reignited discussions on press freedom and the safety of journalists in Guatemala, prompting many to closely monitor how this situation progresses.