GUATEMALA CITY — A Guatemalan judge on Friday ruled that jailed journalist José Zamora can leave prison and be held in house arrest after over 800 days behind bars.
Zamora, a well-known journalist who founded the now-defunct El Periódico newspaper and whose work has criticized successive governments, was arrested in July 2022 on money laundering charges.
Zamora was in 2023 sentenced to six years in prison for money laundering.
Judge Erick Garcia on Friday argued that Zamora’s time in preventative prison had reached its limit, in line with human rights standards.
“We are imposing house arrest,” Garcia said in his ruling.
Persons:
José Zamora, Zamora, Erick Garcia, ” Garcia, ”, ” Zamora
Organizations:
GUATEMALA CITY —, El Periódico, United Nations
Locations:
GUATEMALA, Zamora