César Acua decides to pursue a defamation lawsuit against investigative journalists Christopher Acosta and Penguin Random House publishing director, Jeronimo Pimentel, for the publication of the book “Plata como cancha”. It’s confirmed Enrique Gersilawyer for Alliance for Progress (APP) leader and virtual candidate for La Libertad Local Government.

“Mr Acuña thinks that he should not continue. He gave up on a personal decision. Since this is a private action, you can withdraw at any time. The following is that the Eighth Five Liquidation Criminal Chamber files the proceedings”said in an interview with the newspaper Trade.

The appeal, seeking to end this criminal act, was filed last Thursday, June 2, at the Eighth Five-Criminal Liquidation Chamber.

Correspondingly, the news was received by Christopher Acosta, the head of Latina’s Investigation Unit, with surprise. “In the decision there may be a political evaluation. Regardless of his motivations, whether it be out of respect for freedom of expression or political reckoning, I still applaud that he finally understands that he gains nothing by fighting with the press.he said.

As remembered, on January 10, Hakim Jesus Vega, of 30 Liquidation Criminal Courts of the Lima . High Courtpunished two years in prison suspended for Acosta and Jerónimo Pimentel, publishing director of Penguim Random House, following a defamation lawsuit filed by Cesar Acuna for the publication of the book ‘Plata como Cancha’.

In a reading that began at 09:30 this morning, Latina’s chief investigator was also asked to pay a sum of 400,000 soles (100,000 dollars) to support the leader of the Alliance for Progress political party.

Judge Vega pointed out that the book ‘Plata como Cancha’ has crossed the line on freedom of expression and adds that Acuña is aggravatedinclude a list of phrases that you consider defamatory.

Upon learning of the judge’s decision, the investigative journalist took to the floor during the trial to express his disagreement with the verdict and announced his decision to appeal through his lawyer: “I am appealing the criminal sentence and the civil compensation requirement.” , he was defended and in publication via Twitter indicated by the press officer “Can’t speak. I don’t know what to say”.

“This is the first level, this process can still go to the second level and finally to the Supreme Court. That’s what we will do if there is an unfavorable result,” he argued.

The Peruvian Press Council (CPP) and the Press and Society Institute (IPYS) oppose the sentence handed down to journalist Christopher Acosta, who was sentenced to two years in prison and paid 400,000 soles for the criminal offense of grave libel against the leader of Alianza por el Progreso, Cesar Acuna.

Both institutions assessed ‘terrible’ and ‘deviant’ the arguments used by the judge Raul Vega to punish the press, as well as the author of the book ‘Plata como cancha’, who appealed the sentence showing that “judges have put up too high a fence for journalism over the fact that the right to cite should not be a limitation to this profession”.

Similarly, the embassies of the United States and Britain, in Peru, and the United Nations Organization, spoke through their social networks in support of “one of the most basic human rights”, that’s how they understand freedom of expression.

These institutions shared the same message on Twitter, where they maintained that press freedom serves as “the foundation of all democracy” and that they are “working day by day” to strengthen that right.

“Freedom of expression, including the freedom of the press as the basis of any democracy, is one of the most fundamental human rights”, read messages from embassies and the United Nations.

“The United States/UK advocate strict respect for this right in any part of the world and are working every day to strengthen it,” statement ends.