Horacio Potestá, a journalist with the “Caretas” weekly, received a one year suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay 20,000 new soles (approx. US$5,800) in civil damages. Potestá was accused of defamation by lawyer Javier Corrochano Patron, who has defended drug traffickers and is apparently linked to the chief of the intelligence services, Vladimiro […]
Horacio Potestá, a journalist with the “Caretas” weekly, received a one year suspended prison sentence and was ordered to pay 20,000 new soles (approx. US$5,800) in civil damages. Potestá was accused of defamation by lawyer Javier Corrochano Patron, who has defended drug traffickers and is apparently linked to the chief of the intelligence services, Vladimiro Montesinos.
Judge Juan Larco of the Fifth Lima Criminal Court sentenced the journalist after finding that a number of Potestáâs articles on Corrochanoâs alleged criminal activities were unsubstantiated.
In one of his articles, Potestá alleged that Corrochano helped Bruno Chiappe, one of the leaders of the “Los Camellos” drug trafficking operation, to leave the country. Potestá also accused Corrochano of having tried to blackmail automobile broker Eduardo Dibos in exchange for Dibos not becoming involved with the gangâs criminal activities.
A previous charge filed against the journalist was annuled by the Lima Supreme Court.
Potestá has filed an appeal with the Court of Appeals for Suspended Prison Sentences and insists that he can substantiate his accusations.
