Journalist detained

(CPJ/IFEX) – According to CPJ’s information, journalist Manuel Vicente Peña Gomez was detained on 5 March 1999 for failure to pay the bail granted to him in relation to criminal defamation charges. CPJ was informed by its sources that three detectives of the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI), which falls under the Attorney General’s responsibility, came […]

(CPJ/IFEX) – According to CPJ’s information, journalist Manuel Vicente
Peña Gomez was detained on 5 March 1999 for failure to pay the bail
granted to him in relation to criminal defamation charges.

CPJ was informed by its sources that three detectives of the Technical
Investigation Corps (CTI), which falls under the Attorney General’s
responsibility, came to the central Bogotá apartment building where Peña
lives and asked to speak with the journalist, identifying themselves as
students at the University of the Rosary. When Peña came down to the
lobby and talked to the detectives, they identified themselves as
members of the CTI and showed him a warrant for his arrest. At that
moment, other detectives joined them. Peña fled into the elevator, after
firing a couple of shots at the ceiling. Some of the detectives
proceeded to raid Peña’s apartment; they reportedly confiscated
investigative material. Peña meanwhile made phone calls to the office of
the public advocate, the office of the general prosecutor, and the
press, denouncing the irregular proceedings. When a prosecutor arrived
at the scene, he surrendered. The detectives barred him from talking to
the press.

The criminal defamation charges against Peña stem from articles he wrote
in 1996, when working for the now-defunct Bogotá daily “La Prensa.”
While CPJ believes journalists should never be jailed or threatened with
jail for their work, it recognizes that the arrest was made because of
Peña’s failure to post bail, which was set on 11 August 1998.

Recommended Action

Alfonso Gomez Méndez

Attorney General

Bogotá, Colombia

Fax: +57 1 570 2000