Court Sentences Journalist To Two Years in Prison for Trespassing
By JOSÉ OTERO for La Prensa Panama's Second Circuit Court in La Chorrera sentenced journalist Marcel Chéry, who is today the director of the newspaper El Siglo, to two years in prison and a fine of $1,000 for trespassing, a crime of which he was accused in March of 2001 by Supreme Court Magistrate Winston Spadafora. The sentence says Chéry clandestinely entered a piece of property owned by Spadafora. Chéry alleges they opened the gate of the property. In this decision another journalist, Gustavo Aparicio, was acquitted. Chéry defense lawyers are analyzing their options for a possible appeal. (See Comments)
Editor's Comment: Back in March of 2001 Jean Marcel Chéry was working as a journalist for the Panama America newspaper. He was part of a group of people who went to a farm owned by Supreme Court Justice Winston Spadafora in La Arenosa in La Chorrera, in order to verify reports that the administration of Mireya Moscoso was using government funds from the "Fondo de Inversión Social" (FIS) (Social Investment Fund) to build what amounted to basically a private road for Spadafora and a very few other landowners near Gatun Lake - the road would only benefit Spadafora and nine other property owners, including other members of the Moscoso administration. Chéry says Spadafora's foreman opened the gate for them and allowed them access to the property in order to investigate the supposed building of the road. Now, more than eight years later, Winston Spadafora is still a Supreme Court Judge wielding a tremendous amount of influence over the lower courts, like this Circuit court in La Chorrera. Interesting timing, to see this decision coming down just four days before a national election. The "Arnulfistas" feeling their oats, maybe? And, two years and a $1,000 fine for trespassing? There's no way in hell Chéry would have been convicted of anything, had he not been reporting on a story that was tremendously embarrassing to the administration of Mireya Moscoso and Winston Spadafora. This amounts to little more than state-sponsored action to restrict freedom of the press. Once again, Winston Spadafora proves to be a tremendous embarrassment for the Republic of Panama as he exercises his power and influence as a Supreme Court Judge for his personal benefit. Now hopefully the International Court of Human Rights, as well as other organizations protecting the rights of journalists around the world, will scream bloody murder. And, Winston Spadafora still has a $3 million dollar civil suit pending against the Panama America for reporting what amounts to - the truth. And this guy is a judge on the Supreme Court? For how much longer? When does his term expire? And people wonder why the Panamanian "justice" system is all screwed up...
VÍA RÁPIDA
Condenan a periodista por violar domicilio al buscar noticia
LA CHORRERA. El Juzgado Segundo de Circuito de La Chorrera condenó a dos años de cárcel y 100 días-multa (a razón de $10 por día) al periodista Marcel Chéry, actual director del diario El Siglo, por el delito de violación de domicilio, del cual fue acusado en marzo de 2001 por el actual magistrado de la Corte Winston Spadafora. El fallo señala que Chéry ingresó de forma clandestina a una finca propiedad de Spadafora. Chéry alega que a él le abrieron el portón de la propiedad. En este dictamen se absolvió al también periodista Gustavo Aparicio. La defensa de Chéry analiza una apelación.
JOSÉ OTERO
