Peru
Journalists convicted of criminal defamationPosted Oct 20 2007
Judge Haydee Monzón, of the First Criminal Transitory Court of Lima, convicted four journalists at the daily newspaper La Republica for aggravated criminal defamation reported the International Freedom of Expression Exchange
Convicted journalists include: cartoonist Carlos Tovar Samanez (“Carlín”), journalists Ángel Páez and Edmundo Cruz and editor Gustavo Mohme Seminario
IFEX noted that the sentence includes a two-year suspended prison term and payment of 50,000 soles (US$ 16,000) in civil damages to the defendant, Gladys Barboza Peña, an official in the Department of the Interior.
IFEX also reported that judge Monzón made his ruling because La Republica did not consult Barboza Peña or request permission before using her official image in the insulting cartoons.
The Press and Society Institute particularly condemned the judge’s sentencing of the newspaper’s editor simply because of his position.