As planner of an assassination against Rafael Correa, Luis Guanotosig, a former police officer, was sentenced. Since his freedom and once his innocence has been confirmed, he says that he does not feel resentment against the former president, who was arrogant with him and his companions.
Luis Alfredo Guanotasig Oña was one of the six policemen involved in the case 30-S. He was accused of being the one who planned an alleged assassination against the former president Rafael Correa.
Guanotasig clearly remembers how the process was: “On October 25, 2013 I was called to a bonding hearing within the attempted assassination process. The prosecutor at the time, Gustavo Benitez, requested my preventive detention, arguing that I could not appear and that I may escape. My lawyer at the time justified that I was an active duty police officer; however, the Prosecutor issued the incarceration ballot. I was transferred to prison for 4 years and I was detained for 5 years and I left on September 11, 2018 for pre-release. He had a 12-year sentence ”.
On Wednesday, November 24, 2021, a Tribunal of the National Court declared him innocent.
Since his freedom, Guanotasig says he wants to get his life back and affirms that he has no grudge against Correa; on the contrary, ask that it be okay.
What was it like having received a guilty sentence?
They were the hardest days. As a result of that I got divorced, everything was destroyed; It was difficult for my ex-wife to assimilate. We have never experienced a problem of this magnitude. For my family and friends it was sad news.
Did your family ever think you were guilty?
No and I have always said it, I am innocent, they are wrong with me. Although I never denied that he was there (at the police hospital).
After completing my workday, from 07:00 to 19:00, I went to that place out of curiosity. I told the Prosecutor: ‘I was disarmed, I was in civilian clothes and my face was uncovered. If I had wanted to commit a crime, I would have covered it up, but it was not like that. ‘
They did not believe my words and described me as the author of the attempted assassination.
What was the evidence for that accusation?
There was not. The Prosecutor made a summary from when it began, until when did that day end (30-S) and what had happened. He argued that there were deaths and shots; We cannot deny that this existed, it was a shock. What I have asked is that it be investigated whether in truth I attempted against the life of the (former) President. With what purpose was he going to attack? If he did not even have a stick to attack or worse threaten him with death or attempted assassination.
Were you convicted of an assumption without evidence?
That’s right, that’s the way they condemned us. The day I was sentenced in the Seventh Court I said out loud: ‘without evidence they are sentencing me.’
They say that having been in that place is proof that we tried to kill him. The Prosecutor was referring to me ‘which big bad wolf was waiting to kill the prey’.
He rated me as assassin and sniper. As I had the highest grade of all my peers (second sergeant) said that I was the organizer, that the day before I had orchestrated the death of the (former) President. My question is: if I met in the park, at some address, where is the supposed planning? It never existed.
The expert the Prosecutor hired said, referring to my colleagues and me, that we were in good shape. contemplative, passive. Those words imply that I did not attack anyone, worse still attempt with someone’s life.
Were you at the wrong time and place?
At the wrong time it would be, in the wrong place, because as an Ecuadorian I have free movement throughout the country and as a member of the Police I could have gone to carry out an investigation, to the morgue, to the hospital, to the Regiment. It was the wrong time and curiously, they involved me in the case of 30-S.
What happened after you received the sentence?
We received the sentence on August 25, 2014. One Saturday, Mr. Rafael Correa, on his Saturday, he said: “We have the maximum sentence of 12 years against six policemen for attempted assassination, they are the ones who wanted to kill me, they are the murderers, criminals, guerrillas”; He treated us in the worst way. And he said: “so that you can see that I am not spiteful, I am going to give you the pardon.”
As I was the oldest, I gathered my companions and asked them if they were going to accept the pardon, almost all of them said no, because we are innocent. A colleague did accept, because he said he had small children and his wife did not work, he had no one to support them.
On several occasions, 4 officials arrived at the prison to offer us the guilty pardon. The (ex) pCorrea resident went personally on April 15, 2015 and he asked comrade Eduardo Mullo, ‘why are you detained?’, he replied: ‘for the 30-S case; I would like to talk to you, you are being misinformed, we are innocent. ‘ But, the (former) president said prepotent: ‘for you is the pardon, the only step to be released is pardon’.
If you had former President Rafael Correa in front of you, what would you say to him?
I would ask you if you were fully aware of the investigations that the Prosecutor was conducting, if you ever read my process, if you have seen my video. I would ask him: ‘Why so much hatred towards us?‘. My crime was having been an active duty police officer.
When you received the news that you were innocent, what did it mean to you?
I was in shock; although I was sure they were going to give me innocence, I thought that justice was being manipulated and that the lords judges depended on the orders of the lord Rafael Correa. There was no trust in Justice.
Did you have faith in Justice again?
Yes and my life is reborn. I will not make up for lost years. When I went to jail, my daughter was 17 years old, she was the age that needed me the most. Now I have my innocence, my friends and my family again.
What actions will you take?
First I want to get my profession back. My dream since I was a child was to be a policeman, I fulfilled it and I had it. Now I want to go out the front door, asking for my voluntary withdrawal.
Later I will consult with the lawyers the actions that can be taken. This cannot happen with humble people, the townspeople, that someone comes to hurt, to persecute, because we are there to think differently.
Would you forgive those who accused you?
I have no grudge and no revenge. I believe in God and I leave everything in his hands. I pray for them to God, especially for the Lord Rafael Correa. I ask God to be with his family, so that anywhere in the world he is well, that God protect him and bless his family. (MR)
“I have no grudge or revenge against those who accused us”
“I want to be a policeman again and go out the front door.”
