(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist César Hildebrandt Pérez Treviño is no longer facing charges for treason, violation of state secrets and espionage. On 19 August 1999, Attorney José Ochoa Lamas shelved the case after he failed to prove that the journalist had distributed confidential information regarding the deployment of Ecuatorian troops on Peruvian territory. This topic was […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist César Hildebrandt Pérez Treviño is no longer facing
charges for treason, violation of state secrets and espionage. On 19 August
1999, Attorney José Ochoa Lamas shelved the case after he failed to prove
that the journalist had distributed confidential information regarding the
deployment of Ecuatorian troops on Peruvian territory. This topic was
allegedly debated in Congress on 11 August 1998.
Santiago Sanguinetti Galindo and Carlos Aguirre filed a charge against
Hildebrandt, after the latter repeated statements on his television
programme which were allegedly made by the foreign minister during the
session of Congress. According to Sanguinetti and Aguirre, Hildebrandt had
endangered national security by violating state secrecy laws.
In his report, Attorney Ochoa Lamas argued that there was insufficient proof
of the supposed risk to national security resulting from Hildebrandt’s
actions, because there was no confirmation that the information he gave on
the programme had been the same as that which had been discussed in
Congress. Members of Congress who were called to testify sent a letter to
the attorney’s office stating that, because of the confidential nature of
the meeting, they were unable to reveal what had taken place and could be
charged were they to do so.
The attorney’s report concludes that there is insufficient evidence to merit
initiating legal proceedings against the journalist, as what really occurred
during the congressional session remains unknown.
