Guatemala convicts renowned journalist Jose Ruben Zamora of money laundering

Zamoras work has been internationally recognised.The three-judge panel cleared Zamora of additional charges of blackmail and influence peddling.In his final comments to the court on Wednesday before the verdict was announced, Zamora maintained his innocence and called for the court to release him, saying, all of my rights were violated.He said the government did not allow him the right to a defence.

A Guatemalan tribunal convicted newspaper founder and editor Jose Ruben Zamora on Wednesday of money laundering, concluding a trial press freedom groups decried as a political persecution aimed at silencing a critical voice.

Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei, and specifically his justice system, have been criticised internationally for backsliding on democratic principles and weaponising the country's prosecutors and courts to pursue perceived enemies.

Giammattei has denied there was any political motivation.

Zamora's El Periodico newspaper was known as fiercely independent and published investigations about corruption in the administrations of Giammattei and his predecessors. Zamora's work has been internationally recognised.

The three-judge panel cleared Zamora of additional charges of blackmail and influence peddling.

In his final comments to the court on Wednesday before the verdict was announced, Zamora maintained his innocence and called for the court to release him, saying, “all of my rights were violated”.

He said the government did not allow him the right to a defence. “They treated us like criminals, they destroyed evidence,” he said.

Several of his defense lawyers were arrested in the run-up to the trial.