On 16 May 1996, the owner of Radio Miraflores, Ricardo Palma Michelsen, was arrested for alleged tax evasion. The order for his arrest was issued following a report broadcast the previous day on “Good Morning Mr President”–a radio program carried by Radio Miraflores–about apparent irregularities in the bidding for a construction project of a hydroelectric […]
On 16 May 1996, the owner of Radio Miraflores, Ricardo Palma
Michelsen, was arrested for alleged tax evasion. The order for
his arrest was issued following a report broadcast the previous
day on “Good Morning Mr President”–a radio program carried by
Radio Miraflores–about apparent irregularities in the bidding
for a construction project of a hydroelectric plant in San Gaban.
Palma stated that he had received documents about irregularities
in the bidding, which took place on 11 March. On 14 May, the
contract with the company to which it was awarded, Andrade
Gutierrez, was cancelled by authorities. Palma claims that he has
enough information to prove that his arrest was connected to the
report on “Good Morning Mr President” about the hydroelectric
project.
On 20 May, Tax Court judge Saul Pena Farfan ordered the seizure
of Palma’s personal property, including Radio Miraflores. The
next day, Palma’s lawyer, Armando Lengua Balbi, appealed Palma’s
arrest and asked for a reduction in the severity of the order,
saying that the judge went beyond his prescribed powers by
ordering Palma’s arrest and subsequent detention in prison.
Lengua stated that he will ask the judge to allow Palma’s release
on bail.
Prior to his arrest, Palma received an anonymous telephone call
saying that the Superintendencia Nacional de Administracion
Tributaria (SUNAT), which is the government agency responsible
for policing taxation and contraband, “would go after him” if
reports continued to be made on the hydroelectric project.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
must be proven during a fair and open judicial process, and that
the legal proceedings must be carried out according to a strict
interpretation of the law
detention
Appeals To
His Excellency Alberto Fujimori Fujimori
President
Palacio de Gobierno
Plaza de Armas
Lima 1, Peru
Fax: +511 4266770 (or +511 4266535 via presidential press office)
Adrian Revilla
Director
SUNAT
Fax: +511 4322530
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
