Newspaper editorial writer in Ecuador convicted of insulting official, sentenced to 3 years

[Zorro]

Bolivarian democracy, Ecuadorean style.

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A district court judge convicted a newspaper editorial writer Friday of insulting the head of the Ecuador government's National Financial Corp. and sentenced him to three years in prison.

Emilio Palacio, who works for the newspaper El Universo, also was ordered to pay legal costs of $10,000.

The case centered on an Aug. 27 editorial that made fun of official Camilo Saman for supposedly sending bodyguards to the newspaper to complain about a news story. While a group of people did show up objecting to the article, Saman's guards were not there.

Gutemberg Vera, the lawyer representing Saman, praised the court's action. "A journalist can say whatever he wants, but if you insult, but if it offends, as it was by Mr. Emilio Palacio, he must be punished," Vera said.

<snip>

More at: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-lt-ecuador-journalist-convicted,0,3211764.story?track=rss

[protocol rv]

1. Crazy

Ecuador sure has some primitive laws. Or crazy judges. 3 years? Sounds crazy.