PARLACEN MURDER UPDATE: 16 PRISON GUARDS RELEASED

UNCLAS GUATEMALA 002121 SIPDIS SIPDIS SAN SALVADOR FOR LEGATT NSC FOR DAN FISK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KCRM SNAR PGOV PHUM KJUS ASEC ES GT SUBJECT: PARLACEN MURDER UPDATE: 16 PRISON GUARDS RELEASED FOR INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE REF: GUATEMALA 861 AND PREVIOUS ¶1. Sixteen prison guards, accused of facilitating the February 25 murder of four National Civil Police (PNC) officers in El Boqueron prison, were released for insufficient evidence. The four murdered PNC officers had been incarcerated in the maximum security prison in Santa Rosa as suspects in the February 19 murder of three Salvadoran parliamentarians and their driver (reftel). ¶2. A judge in Santa Rosa ordered the release of the 16 prison guards and dismissal of the case in response to a request from the Public Ministry following an investigation of the murder. The guards were accused of facilitating access to the PNC officers. ¶3. According to spokesperson Luis Castro, the Public Ministry requested the release of the prison guards and dismissal of the case for insufficient evidence. Reportedly, the guards were on duty on the day of the murder but were in a rest area and not in the detention area of the prison. ¶4. The Director and Deputy Director of El Boqueron prison and 13 alleged gang members remain in custody in connection with the murder. The case against the alleged gang members is scheduled to begin later this month. Derham