María Fernanda Bonilla Archila was sentenced to Payment of Q12 thousand 273.28 as part of a Dignal repair to the state of Guatemalaafter having accepted charges for the use of a cell phone within the detention center in Zacapa.
This case, which dates back to a social networks transmission made from prison in 2022, was known at a recent audience in Chiquimula, where the Attorney General’s Office (PGN) as aggravated part.
Although this process has had advances, The trial for the death of Melisa Palaciosin which Bonilla is also involved, continues without resolving.
Crime and sanction
The case dates back to January 2022, when Bonilla made a Transmission in social networks from jail of Zacapausing a mobile device, despite its Prohibition in Guatemala Penitentiary Centers.
According to him Article 26 of the Law against Organized Crimethe use of cell phones or electronic devices within a prison constitutes a Crime punished with prison from six to ten years.
However, having hosted Special Procedure to Acceptance ChargesBonilla could benefit from a reduced conviction.
PGN demands economic reparation
During the hearing held on April 7, 2025, Bonilla, through his defense, requested to take advantage of this abbreviated procedure.
With this, the PGN, in its role as State representative as a victim, requested on Monday, April 14, 2024 Economic reparation for Q12 thousand 273.28amount that was accepted by the Competent Court of Chiquimula. In this regard The judge will issue the sentence the next April 25, at 3:00 p.m.
Act as a aggravated part allows the PGN to intervene in judicial proceedings in which the State has suffered a direct damage due to an illicit factas happened in this case.
Melisa Palacios Case: The process still does not advance
Despite the progress in the process for the use of cell phone, The case for the death of Palacios It has not yet been resolved by the courts.
The Public Ministry Research (MP) He points out that Bonilla and his bodyguard, José Luis Marroquín Ovallethey would have participated in the Palacios murder on July 5, 2021.
Initially, the case was presented as murderbut the judge José Maximino Morales González modified the accusation to Homicide in a state of violent emotionafter excluding some key tests presented by the MP.
There is still no audience date, in the case of the murder of Melisa Palacios because it is pending that the CSJ resolved an amparo filed by the MP.
Requests to transfer the case to a court of greater risk
Since the beginning of 2024, the Victim Institute has requested that the case be known by a Court of greatest risk in Guatemala Cityarguing the existence of procedural hazards and local tensions that could affect the impartiality of the trial. However, the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) He has twice rejected the request, considering that the current criminal type does not justify it.
The last rejection was after April 10, when the magistrates of the CSJ returned to Deny a provisional amparo requested by the victim’s institute, which was looking for separate the judges from the court of Chiquimula for alleged doubts about their independence.
Currently, the authorities resolved that the continuity of Judge Juan José Regalado in charge so that the hearing of Intermediate stagewhere it will be defined if the case advances orally and under what criminal qualification.
They call for justice
Amid the lack of advances in the judicial process, family and friends of Melisa Palacios They summoned one Citizen march to demand justice and transfer of the case to a court with greater procedural guarantees.
The demonstration will be carried out Saturday, May 4starting at 7.30 in the morning in El Obelisco Square And concluding in front of the Supreme Court of Justice.
The organizers invite attendees to dress in purple as a symbol of support for the victim and the demand for justice.