(IFJ/IFEX) – The Taxation and Customs Offences Court, presided by Raul Lorenzi Goycochea, changed its ruling yesterday against the former general manager of the television station Frecuencia Latina – Canal 2, Julio Sotelo Casanova, who has now been released on bail. **Updates IFEX alerts of 2 July, 29 June, 25 June, 21 June, 16 June, […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – The Taxation and Customs Offences Court, presided by Raul
Lorenzi Goycochea, changed its ruling yesterday against the former general
manager of the television station Frecuencia Latina – Canal 2, Julio Sotelo
Casanova, who has now been released on bail.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 2 July, 29 June, 25 June, 21 June, 16 June, 26 May,
9 April, 22 March and 9 March 1999**
The court reversed the sentence imposed by Judge Nicolas Trujillo, who had
sentenced Sotelo to a prison sentence of four years without parole, a
sentence which Peruvian jurisprudence does not call for in such instances.
The court agreed that Sotelo does not represent a danger to society, and
that he should not be sentences to prison.
The respiratory problems and heart condition of the accused were taken into
consideration in the decision. Sotelo had earlier been taken to the
emergency room of the San Borja Hospital with respiratory difficulties that
might have led to heart failure if not treated promptly.
Sotelo had been accused of doctoring the television station’s books to
favour the daughters of the majority shareholder in Frecuancia Latina,
Baruch Ivcher.
In an interview, Sotelo said: “I have the feeling that I have finally had my
rights as a citizen returned to me. Under the law, I have not committed any
crime. I am innocent and I will spend the rest of my life defending my good
name.”
