2024-08-25 03:24:34
The hearing of the Judicial Independence case included the defense of Wilman Terán.
This Saturday, July 20, 2024, the preparatory hearing for the trial of Judicial Independence casein which the former president of the National Council of the Judiciary (CNJ).
The legal proceedings began with the presence of the acting Attorney General, Wilson Toainga. This was the preparatory hearing for the trial of 11 defendants for alleged obstruction of justice. The technical defense attorneys proceeded to present their arguments.
The hearing was reinstated after part of the process had already been developed on July 19, in which Terán requested a oral habeas corpus.
Wilman Terán and his defense in the Judicial Independence case
He Former President of the National CouncilThe National Judiciary Commissioner was the first to speak at the hearing, after expressing problems with his vision.
Wilman Teran He recounted some of the facts surrounding the case and reiterated the conditions and limitations he faces as a result of being held in La Roca prison. These, he argued, have limited his defense. He has not had access to the files to establish this right.
The defendant insisted on wanting to get out of jail and leave that “environment of violence” to defend himself. He is temporarily in prison 4 in Quito. This is due to the proceedings.
What is the Judicial Independence case?
The investigation of the Judicial Independence case began in 2022, for the alleged commission of the crime of influence peddling against the former members of the Council of the Judiciary
The Prosecutor’s Office explained that, after the corresponding draw, the jurisdiction to process the case fell to the judge Walter Macias Fernandezwho set the hearing for May 4, 2023.
However, he was not installed because a day earlier (on May 3), a request for recusal was filed against him.
On May 11, 2023, the members of the plenary session of the Council of the Judiciary The judge was suspended from his duties, based on technical reports and memoranda issued by his subordinates. This was despite the fact that the recusal was rejected.
On March 8, 2023, an administrative complaint was filed against Judge Walter Macías, within the framework of the so-called case The Towers. This is for an alleged violation of not having informed the President of the National Court the recusal request against Judge Adrián Rojas (judge of the Court of said case).
The Prosecutor’s Office recapitulated that the Judicial Council classified the administrative complaint as a “very serious infraction” and dismissed the Judge Macias.
According to Terán, during his defense in the impeachment trial in the AssemblyOn July 1, 2024, Macías should be prosecuted for influence peddling.
Advances in the hearing
As early as July 19, 2024, the fiscal general (s) Wilson Toainga presented his accusatory opinion in the case. The official defined that Wilman Teran and the former member of the Judicial Council, Ruth Maribel Barrenoare in the capacity of direct authors of the crime of obstruction of justice.
Additionally, Wilson Toainga defined as accomplices a nine prosecutedformer officials of the Council of the Judiciary.
Already this July 20th, Wilman Teran He stressed that his actions were in accordance with the rules. After recapitulating points of the Administrative Lawsaid that Macías’ suspension occurred precisely based on those parameters.
Terán stressed that he would do it again. The defendant closed his speech, which lasted one hour and 30 minutes, saying that he had fulfilled his duties. He described the evidence from the Prosecutor’s Office and the Attorney General’s Office as irrelevant.
By: EL COMERCIO