Nicaragua: Two Sons of Former President Chamorro Convicted

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Journalists Cristiana and Pedro Joaquín Chamorro Barrios, sons of former Nicaraguan president Violeta Chamorro (1990-1997), were sentenced Monday to eight and nine years in prison, respectively, after being charged with money laundering and other crimes, reported the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (CENIDH).

Attorney Vilma Núñez, president of CENIDH, told The Associated Press that Walter Gómez and Marcos Fletes, administrator and accountant of the closed NGO Violeta Chamorro Foundation (FVBCH), were sentenced to 13 years in prison, while driver Pedro Vasquez was sentenced to seven years in prison.

Cristiana Chamorro, 68, was considered the favorite to dispute power against President Daniel Ortega in last November's elections. She was arrested on June 2, 2021, in the middle of the election campaign.

The judge ordered the opposition to continue under house arrest, while the other convicted persons would remain in pre-trial detention in the police prison in El Chipote.

Núñez pointed out that on all those convicted, except Pedro Joaquín Chamorro, the judge also imposed “millionaire fines, impossible to pay”, which could be converted into life imprisonment if commuted.

“These are void sentences, they are innocent and we demand their immediate release,” said the veteran human rights activist, who has followed up on several of the trials carried out against some 46 opposition leaders, journalists, businessmen and former diplomats imprisoned for more than eight months.

Cristiana Chamorro was arrested after announcing her intention to run as a candidate to challenge Ortega, who was eventually re-elected in the November 7 elections for a fourth term that began two months later. Six other presidential candidates were imprisoned during the election campaign, as part of the 46 opponents arrested.

On March 11, after a trial that lasted seven days, Cristiana Chamorro was found guilty of money, property and asset laundering; misappropriation and retention; abusive management and ideological falsehood. Daniel Ortega's government argues that it carried out “irregular transactions” from the FVBCH with funds from governments and international organizations.

The Chamorro Foundation, which ceased operations in January 2021 and was shut down by the government last month, was dedicated to promoting training courses for journalists and funding media and projects to defend freedom of expression. The Chamorro family also owns the newspaper “La Prensa”, which was shut down by the government and is still under police occupation.

The general manager of “La Prensa”, Juan Lorenzo Holmann Chamorro, who has been in prison since August 2021, was brought to trial this Monday.

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro defeated Daniel Ortega at the polls in 1990, ending almost ten years of Sandinista revolution.