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Judge links Correa to the Balda case and orders him to appear every 15 days before the Court
Posted On 19 Jun 2018
Ecuadornews:
The National Court of Justice of Ecuador linked former President Rafael Correa in the case of alleged kidnapping against ex-legislator Fernando Balda in 2012, in Colombia, and ordered him to appear before that Supreme Court every 15 days, from the next July 2nd.
The Criminal Justice Judge of the National Court of Justice, Daniella Camacho, based on the arguments of the Prosecutor’s Office, declared the procedural validity of the case and linked Correa, who resides permanently in Belgium, where his wife is from.
The former president is accused by the crimes of “illicit association” and kidnapping or plagiarism of Balda, one of the most bitter politicians opposed to the management of Correa, who governed Ecuador between 2007 and 2017.
Despite the fact that the Prosecutor’s Office had requested as precautionary measures that Correa should appear periodically before the Embassy in Belgium, Judge Camacho decided that such action should be taken before the Secretariat of the National Court of Justice in Quito every two weeks, since the former president maintains the Ecuatorian nationality.
Camacho did not give way to a precautionary measure requested by the Prosecutor General’s Office, in the sense that Correa was given a technological tracking device (electronic shackle).
Also, the judge, who at first fixed the next June 25 as the start date for Correa to appear before the court in the capital of the country, postponed it for July 2 before the request of the defense of the former president.
The hearing linking Correa to the Balda case occurred amid protests by several dozen supporters of the former president outside the CNJ.
Correa’s defense attorney, Caupolicán Ochoa, announced that he will appeal Judge Camacho’s ruling.
At the end of the hearing, demonstrators threw eggs and other objects at journalists who covered this procedure, accusing them of favoring the interests of right-wing groups opposed to Correa’s government.
The police cordoned off the place to protect the order and avoid excesses. (I)
