2023-11-23 16:13:00
Six days after the arrests of the accused in the “USAC Takeover: Political Loot” case, Judge Víctor Cruz began the first statement hearing more than three hours late in a small room in the court tower. The process continued this Wednesday, but due to the detailed imputation of facts and presentation of evidence, it was rescheduled for Friday at 10:30 a.m.
It’s news. The Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes against the Cultural Heritage of the Nation, on the second day of the hearing, advanced the accusation of the events against Andrea Marcela Blanco, Rodolfo Chang, Javier de León, and Martín Jorge Macario. On Tuesday, the MP charged Alfredo Enrique Beber Aceituno and Eduardo Antonio Velázquez Carrera.
The crimes charged to the accused are: aggravated usurpation on a continuous basis, depredation of cultural property on a continuous basis, illicit association and sedition on a continuous basis. Among the evidence presented by the prosecution to support the accusation are statements from the administrative and security staff of the university, reports, analyzes and opinions of the Ministry of Culture and Sports, photographs and expert opinions. In addition, videos, messages and photographs that were published on different social networks (Facebook and YouTube), reports from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to establish which political parties participated in the 2023 electoral process.
What to highlight. The Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) argued that the crime of illicit association was incurred because incidents evidence the participation of more than three people with established roles: permanent groups on the Central Campus, people in charge of social networks, in charge of promoting USAC takeover.
The prosecutor in charge indicated that the crime of usurpation is because they arrived at the facilities, removed the security personnel and remained illegally for more than 380 days. Meanwhile, depredation of cultural property because they caused damage to buildings and prevented maintenance of the facilities of the public university, declared Cultural Heritage of the Nation. Continuous sedition, he argued it because force, violence and hatred were evident against the elected rector and the facilities were taken by force, affecting professors and students.
Seen and unseen. During the day on Tuesday, a group of people were observed demonstrating support for the unions in front of the court tower building, while the hearing was taking place. The six accused in the case appreciated the expressions of affection and support. Judge Víctor Cruz, head of the court, authorized only four media outlets to enter the hearing and that a speaker would be installed so that the rest could listen outside, however, it was not installed.
Relatives of those accused requested respect for the MP prosecutors, judicial officials and the judge so that the hearing was not suspended. Before entering the court, the hugs and words of strength from family and friends for the accused were evident. “We are with you. “Everything will be fine,” were some of the messages. The judge authorized Javier de León, a Bachelor of Physics student, to participate in his graduation virtually, from the Mariscal Zavala prison. The six captured are Rodolfo Chang, Andrea Marcela Blanco, Eduardo Antonio Velásquez Carrera, Alfredo Enrique Beber Aceituno, Javier de León, Martín Jorge Macario.
#Antejuicio #MPenAction #MPfuerteYfirme
In follow-up to the “USAC Takeover Case: Political Loot”, the Public Ministry, through the Prosecutor’s Office for Crimes against the Cultural Heritage of the Nation, presented a request for withdrawal of pretrial pic.twitter.com/6lwjYa8uzb— MP of Guatemala (@MPguatemala) November 22, 2023
#charges #crimes #captured #Takeover #Usac #Political #Loot #case