(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 23 June 2003, Judge Juan Carlos Codello, head of the Corrientes Provincial Superior Tribunal, ordered the arrest of reporters Silvio Valenzuela and Manuel Ibarra, of LT7 Radio Corrientes’ “On the Air” programme and the Canal 13 television station, in the northeastern province of Corrientes. Codello also ordered the confiscation of film footage […]
(PERIODISTAS/IFEX) – On 23 June 2003, Judge Juan Carlos Codello, head of the Corrientes Provincial Superior Tribunal, ordered the arrest of reporters Silvio Valenzuela and Manuel Ibarra, of LT7 Radio Corrientes’ “On the Air” programme and the Canal 13 television station, in the northeastern province of Corrientes. Codello also ordered the confiscation of film footage the reporters had taken in front of his house.
According to Valenzuela and Ibarra, at approximately 3:00 p.m. (local time) they were filming in an area where a number of officials reside as part of an investigation into the use of vehicles assigned to members of the government. Codello’s wife arrived and a discussion ensued about the theme of their investigation. Codello then came out of his house and told the journalists, “I know who you [Valenzuela] are, you are against me. I assure you that not even the governor will be able to save you. You will remain under arrest for as long as I say.”
Minutes later, Valenzuela and Ibarra were arrested by metropolitan police officers and taken to the First Division police station. Upon becoming aware of the incident, Judge Graciela Ferreyra ordered the reporters’ immediate release. Valenzuela and Ibarra have filed a complaint against Codello with the First Division police for abuse of authority and perversion of the course of justice.
Judge Codello publicly stated that he had ordered the arrests out of concern that the reporters might have been committing a crime against his “professional and personal security” and that the incident was evidence of “the launch of a defamation campaign.” The Superior Tribunal is expected to make a decision on the case of former governor Raúl “Tato” Romero Feris in the near future, and attention has centered around Codello’s vote. According to local media outlets, he has been subject to political pressure urging him to condemn the former governor.
Without wishing to comment on the political situation in the province, PERIODISTAS has condemned the arrest order, calling upon the provincial justice system to investigate Codello’s actions and punish him should he be found guilty of having abused his authority.
