The priest Oscar Benavidezparish priest of the Espíritu Santo church, in Mulukukú, in the Diocese of Siuna, was sentenced to 10 years in prison, revealed the media Office 505. On January 16, he was convicted for the alleged crimes of conspiracy to undermine national integrity and propagation of false news to the detriment of the State and Nicaraguan society.
The criminal process was in charge of Judge Nancy Aguirre Gudiel, head of the Tenth Court of the Managua Criminal Trial District. The Ortega member is part of a group of 23 judges and prosecutors sanctioned in July of last year by the United States Department of the Treasury.
The priest Óscar Benavidez was captured by the regime Police on August 14, 2022, the apprehension was reported by the Diocese of Siuna on its social networks. At that time, the Diocese affirmed that the “sole mission” of the priest “is and has been to announce the good news of Jesus Christ, who is the word of life and salvation for all.”
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The religious is originally from San Isidro, Matagalpa, he had been in charge of the Espíritu Santo parish in Mulukukú for a little over three months. His parishioners have expressed that he is a very loved person in the town. On December 12, 2022, Father Óscar Benavidez turned 50 and the first in the cells of the National Penitentiary System (SPN) Jorge Navarro in Tipitapa.
The alleged evidence
A source linked to the case told the outlet Office 505 that, during the judicial process, the Prosecutor’s Office presented three citizens of Mulukukú as witnesses to testify against the priest, but none provided relevant information that compromised Benavidez.
As “evidence”, the court used 50 images taken from the priest’s cell phone, which included anti-government memes. On his mobile they did not even find any contact that was of interest to the investigation.
To blame him for the crime of cybercrimes, the ruling party presented an article from a media outlet sent to the parish priest’s WhatsApp, which made reference to the sanctions imposed by democratic governments on Ortega-Murillo government officials.
The Nicaraguan dictatorship has been merciless against the Catholic Church. He has branded priests and bishops “diabolical” and “traitors.” Little by little, Ortega has been adding to the list of imprisoned priests, adding 14 religious who are part of legal proceedings against him and two have already been convicted.
