(IPYS/IFEX) – On 13 July 2004, an order was issued for a search of the daily “El Tiempo”‘s premises. “El Tiempo” is based in Andahuaylas, Apurímac region, southeastern Peru. The order was issued by criminal court judge Guido Castro Tamayo after a complaint was filed against “El Tiempo” director Julio Molero Ibáñez for allegedly distributing […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 13 July 2004, an order was issued for a search of the daily “El Tiempo”‘s premises. “El Tiempo” is based in Andahuaylas, Apurímac region, southeastern Peru. The order was issued by criminal court judge Guido Castro Tamayo after a complaint was filed against “El Tiempo” director Julio Molero Ibáñez for allegedly distributing child pornography.
The accusation against Molero was brought before the local public prosecutor’s office by Martín Urcuzo Ríos, director of “Opinión” newspaper, which is an “El Tiempo” competitor in the region. According to the judicial order, the search of the newspaper’s premises and the seizure of materials linked to the case was requested by provincial prosecutors Waldo Frisch Ponce de León and Vega Mamani. Mamani is Captain Eduardo Valle Toro’s wife. Valle Toro was jailed for his links to drug trafficking which came to light as the result of “El Tiempo” reports.
Molero told IPYS that the authorities seized the newspaper’s photo archives, which consist of almost 10,000 images. He added that the accusation against him was based on one photograph and the testimony of one of the alleged victims.
IPYS notes that the supposedly pornographic photographs, which have been shown to the press, do not demonstrate that a crime has been committed. As a result, IPYS is calling on the authorities to conduct an extensive and impartial investigation and ensure that the complaint against Molero is not a pressure tactic aimed at ensuring that the newspaper refrains from publishing the results of some of its investigations.
