30-S: Colonel Tapia and Five Police Members Were Plead Guilty

Early today, Coronel Rolando Tapia, former head of the Legislative Escort, and five policemen, Francisco Noboa, Patricio Simancas, Marco Tibán, Mario Flores, and Carlos Tasinchana, were plead guilty by  the Second Penal Tribunal of Pichincha of violating the internal state security during the facts occurred on September 30 in Ecuador.

After more than 9 hours of deliberation and once emitted the issuance of the conviction, prosecutor Miguel Jurado and the judges of the Second Court of Criminal Guarantees came out of the Palace quickly, avoiding the press.

All defendants remain the same qualification status of crime: author, accomplices and accessories. Tapia, author: Flores and Simancas, accomplices; Noboa, Tibán and Tasinchana, accessories.

The possible maximum penalties would be: for the author 8 years, 4 years fort the accomplices and 2 years for the accessories. The tribunal of judges has yet to develop and determine the years of condemnation for the 6 defendants.

(FO)