(IFJ/IFEX) – On 12 May 1999, journalist Miguel Moscoso Moscoso was given a one-year suspended prison sentence. Moscoso, who is the former press advisor to the Human Rights and Pacification Congressional Committee, had been charged with defamation causing injury to parliamentary member for the government party, Anselmo Revilla. In October 1998, Revilla was accused by […]
(IFJ/IFEX) – On 12 May 1999, journalist Miguel Moscoso Moscoso was given a
one-year suspended prison sentence. Moscoso, who is the former press advisor
to the Human Rights and Pacification Congressional Committee, had been
charged with defamation causing injury to parliamentary member for the
government party, Anselmo Revilla. In October 1998, Revilla was accused by
the journalist of having unlawfully appropriated eighty percent of his
wages.
**Updates IFEX alert of 11 February 1999**
The case was tried by judge Saúl Peña Farfán, of the Fifth Penal Court in
Lima, in an inquiry that was held without the presence of the press, despite
the fact that the magistrate had declared that the case was open to the
public.
Peña Farfán also ruled that 15,000 soles (approx. US$4,544) were payable to
Revilla for amends, and if this sum could not be vouched for, the order of a
suspended prison sentence would be repealed and the term of imprisonment
would take effect. Moscoso’s defense attorney, Mario Amoretti Pachas,
appealed the decision because he deemed it excessive and because certain
evidence was not taken into account. In the next few days, the case will be
transferred to the Court of Appeals for Defendants with suspended sentences.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
process
is followed in accordance with the National Constitution and International
Agreements on Human Rights
Appeals To
Victor Raúl Castillo Castillo
President
Supreme Court of Justice
Lima, Peru
Fax: +51 14 26 8851Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Office of the Ombudsman
Lima, Peru
Fax: +51 14 26 7889
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
