Journalist José Ale, of the “La Tercera” daily of Santiago de Chile, was sentenced to 541 days in prison by Chile’s Supreme Court. The case was initiated by Judge Servando Jordán, a Supreme Court minister, because he was offended by a January 1998 article. The article in question was written by Ale and referred to […]
Journalist José Ale, of the “La Tercera” daily of Santiago de Chile, was sentenced to 541 days in prison by Chile’s Supreme Court.
The case was initiated by Judge Servando Jordán, a Supreme Court minister, because he was offended by a January 1998 article. The article in question was written by Ale and referred to a rift between Jordán and the Supreme Court presidency. In response, the judge filed a number of complaints for defamation against Ale and the then director of the daily, Fernando Paulsen.
The Santiago Court of Appeals had acquitted Ale of these charges. However, when the Supreme Court heard the case, it decided to uphold the imprisonment sentence against the journalist and to only acquit Paulsen.
According to “La Tercera”, the ruling was received with some “surprise” by other lawyers and judges, as “it contradicts the legal decisions of at least ten magistrates in more than one court who heard the case and acquitted the journalists”.
Ale stated that “while Jordán continues to work in the court system, any efforts made to improve the judiciary’s image are pointless.”
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the Supreme Court president:
– asking him to intervene and review this case, ensuring that the matter is dealt with impartially and according to the law
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Roberto Davila Diaz
Supreme Court of Chile
Fax: +56 2 695 2144
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
