Court absolves ex-mayor of Amazon city charged in slaying of Peruvian radio talk show host

Ex-mayor absolved in journalist’s slaying in Peru

LIMA, Peru — A Peruvian court on Monday absolved the former mayor of a jungle city in the 2004 killing of a reporter who accused him of cocaine trafficking.

The Lima court ruled there was contradictory testimony and insufficient evidence to convict Luis Valdez Villacorta, the former mayor of Coronel Portillo, the Amazon region containing the city of Pucallpa.

Valdez was accused of ordering the killing of Alberto Rivera, president of the local journalist federation and host of a radio program.

Rivera had accused Valdez of masterminding a 551-kilogram (1,215-pound) cocaine shipment hidden in a cargo of plywood that police seized in 2003 in Lima’s port of Callao. The plywood was being shipped by Valdez’s lumber company, but a criminal investigation against him was later dropped.

Less than 24 hours before his murder, Rivera repeated his allegations against Valdez and said if any harm should befall him, authorities should hold Valdez responsible. Rivera was killed by gunmen in his office.

Rivera’s daughter, Patricia Rivera, said she was outraged by the ruling.

“Journalism is at risk in this country,” she told reporters. “This shows that impunity rules in this country, because money can buy consciences.”

Valdez was absolved in an earlier trial in the jungle province of Ucayali, but that ruling was annulled because of irregularities and a new trial was ordered in Lima. Prosecutors had sought 20 years for Valdez.