Acquittal of TV journalists accused by cop

Three TVN , Chanel 2 ,journalists accused of slander and libel by a police sergeant were acquitted in criminal court  on Tuesday, July 17.

 Eduardo Lim Yueng, Syria Miranda and  Kelineth Perez, were sued by National Police Sgt, Francisco Pinto, after the August 31, 2009 showing of a video in which a uniformed police officer  allegedly hit  on a vehicle driver for a bribe.

 The  attorney general has three days in which to launch an appeal If the judgment is appealed the case should be resolved by the Second Court of Justice, said defense lawyer Eduardo Ulloa.

According to Ulloa, the main argument that was accepted by  the court was the fact that "journalists set out to present news of relevance to society." 

The seventeenth criminal judge, José Félix Sánchez, also estimated that in their  actions there was no intention on the part of journalists, to injure, harm or injure the honor of any person but just to carry out journalistic work.

 For Ulloa, the judge's ruling is important for freedom of expression in the country, ensuring that the media feel free to disclose to citizens,  facts they are aware of.