GUATEMALA CITY — A Guatemalan appeals court on Tuesday overturned a judge’s decision to grant journalist José Rubén Zamora house arrest, a move that has drawn strong condemnation from global press freedom advocates.

Zamora, widely known for his uncompromising stance against corruption in Central America, has been detained for two years amid ongoing prosecution on multiple fronts. Initially apprehended in July 2022 for alleged money laundering totaling $38,000, Zamora was handed a six-year prison term in June the following year, subsequently suspended due to procedural flaws.

Throughout his ordeal, Zamora has vehemently contested the trial’s refusal to allow him adequate opportunities to present evidence, particularly concerning the disputed funds' origin.

“I maintain my innocence and am fully capable of defending myself,” Zamora affirmed in a May interview with The Associated Press.

The original detention order, issued two years ago, cited Zamora’s ownership of the now-defunct El Periódico, renowned for its relentless anti-corruption advocacy. The appeals court cited procedural irregularities as grounds for nullifying the house arrest decision, prompting a review by the lower court.

José Zamora Marroquín, the journalist’s son, condemned the appeals court’s action as deliberate harassment orchestrated by the prosecution and plaintiffs to prolong legal proceedings.

International press freedom organizations have rallied behind Zamora, decrying his detention as politically motivated. They echo Zamora’s claims that his legal troubles stem from critical reporting on former President Alejandro Giammattei’s administration, frequently implicated in corruption scandals by El Periódico.

Despite noting marginal improvements in treatment since President Bernardo Arévalo took office, Zamora has reported sporadic harassment by prison staff.

Arévalo, elected on a platform promising robust anti-corruption reforms, faces challenges including the contentious tenure of Attorney General Consuelo Porras, censured by the U.S. and other nations for impeding anti-corruption initiatives.

José Rubén Zamora’s case underscores persistent tensions over press freedom and judicial autonomy in Guatemala, underscoring broader apprehensions regarding democratic governance in the region.