A judge shares a prison atmosphere with inmates he guarded

During the first judicial decongestion day in the Palmasola prison, the most populous in Bolivia, EL DEBER was able to learn about the reality experienced by the precautionary judge Manuel Baptista, who in recent days was sent to that facility by order of a criminal chamber, within a process that is being followed for the alleged release of a Mennonite accused of multiple rapes of women.

In the day that began yesterday that seeks to decongest the causes, hold hearings with abbreviated procedures, in addition to issuing orders for the release of inmates who have already served their sentences, Manuel Baptista appeared and he shook hands with his colleagues to many of whom he told his testimony.

He was sent to prison on March 15 by order of the member of the First Criminal Chamber, Ever Álvarez. The ruling was issued at an appeal hearing requested by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Judicial Council.

The anti-corruption prosecutor Through the prosecutor Mirtha Mejía, he charged Baptista with the crime of breach of duties and prevarication, after the complaint of the Council of the Judiciary.
Judge Manuel Baptista was arrested after being accused of the irregular release of the Mennonite Abram Peters Dick, sentenced to 25 years in prison for the rape of at least 150 women from his community.

Baptista, during the prison visit, revealed to his colleagues that the first day he arrived at palm sole he was sent to the boat, then moved to a room in PC-6 where he currently shares with inmates that he precisely guarded and ordered his arrest.
Baptista commented that, despite everything, the setting is very good and that he is making efforts to install a library in that pavilion.

An inmate was released

A court in Santa Cruz received the testimony of an inmate profired for a criminal offence. She had already served her sentence of six years and four months. In the past few days she had submitted to an abbreviated process but she spent months of her sentence, so the judges in an act of justice issued the order of freedom.

The day of judicial decongestion in Palmasola, with a population of nearly 6,000 inmates between men and women, it took place with the presence of the president of the Departmental Court of Justice, Edil Robles, the magistrate for Santa Cruz, Olvis Egüez, as well as judges from all the sentencing courts.

Edil Robles and Olvis Egüez agreed that the visit will last until next Monday and seeks to decongest, celebrate abbreviated procedures, listen to all inmates and order releases to inmates who meet the requirements.

The departmental director of Penitentiaries, Mauricio Romero, stated that about 150 inmates are expected to arrive with abbreviated procedures.

The sessions, which also include the participation of prosecutors and public defenders, will continue today with precautionary judges and on Monday with sentencing judges.

During the first judicial decongestion day in the Palmasola prison, the most populous in Bolivia, EL DEBER was able to learn about the reality experienced by the precautionary judge Manuel Baptista, who in recent days was sent to that facility by order of a criminal chamber, within a process that is being followed for the alleged release of a Mennonite accused of multiple rapes of women.

In the day that began yesterday that seeks to decongest the causes, hold hearings with abbreviated procedures, in addition to issuing orders for the release of inmates who have already served their sentences, Manuel Baptista appeared and he shook hands with his colleagues to many of whom he told his testimony.

He was sent to prison on March 15 by order of the member of the First Criminal Chamber, Ever Álvarez. The ruling was issued at an appeal hearing requested by the Prosecutor’s Office and the Judicial Council.

The anti-corruption prosecutor Through the prosecutor Mirtha Mejía, he charged Baptista with the crime of breach of duties and prevarication, after the complaint of the Council of the Judiciary.
Judge Manuel Baptista was arrested after being accused of the irregular release of the Mennonite Abram Peters Dick, sentenced to 25 years in prison for the rape of at least 150 women from his community.

Baptista, during the prison visit, revealed to his colleagues that the first day he arrived at palm sole he was sent to the boat, then moved to a room in PC-6 where he currently shares with inmates that he precisely guarded and ordered his arrest.
Baptista commented that, despite everything, the setting is very good and that he is making efforts to install a library in that pavilion.

An inmate was released

A court in Santa Cruz received the testimony of an inmate profired for a criminal offence. She had already served her sentence of six years and four months. In the past few days she had submitted to an abbreviated process but she spent months of her sentence, so the judges in an act of justice issued the order of freedom.

The day of judicial decongestion in Palmasola, with a population of nearly 6,000 inmates between men and women, it took place with the presence of the president of the Departmental Court of Justice, Edil Robles, the magistrate for Santa Cruz, Olvis Egüez, as well as judges from all the sentencing courts.

Edil Robles and Olvis Egüez agreed that the visit will last until next Monday and seeks to decongest, celebrate abbreviated procedures, listen to all inmates and order releases to inmates who meet the requirements.

The departmental director of Penitentiaries, Mauricio Romero, stated that about 150 inmates are expected to arrive with abbreviated procedures.

The sessions, which also include the participation of prosecutors and public defenders, will continue today with precautionary judges and on Monday with sentencing judges.

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