SAN SALVADOR (AP) ― Police arrested a Spanish priest Wednesday on allegations he tried to get favorable treatment for Salvadoran gang members and helped smuggled contraband into prisons.
Roman Catholic priest Antonio Rodriguez Tercero was detained as part of a sweep that also arrested 12 police officers, two judges, three court employees and two prosecution officials who allegedly collaborated with members of “Mara” street gangs.
Some of them were accused of helping expedite or fix judicial rulings for gang members. Other court employees, lawyers and gang members were also detained in a series of raids that netted a total of 125 arrests, officials said.
National Civil Police Director Mauricio Ramirez Landaverde offered no more details on the charges against Rodriguez Tercero. But regional prosecutor German Arriaza said there was evidence the priest helped smuggle cellphones and drugs into prisons for the Barrio 18 gang.
Roman Catholic priest Antonio Rodriguez Tercero was detained as part of a sweep that also arrested 12 police officers, two judges, three court employees and two prosecution officials who allegedly collaborated with members of “Mara” street gangs.
Some of them were accused of helping expedite or fix judicial rulings for gang members. Other court employees, lawyers and gang members were also detained in a series of raids that netted a total of 125 arrests, officials said.
National Civil Police Director Mauricio Ramirez Landaverde offered no more details on the charges against Rodriguez Tercero. But regional prosecutor German Arriaza said there was evidence the priest helped smuggle cellphones and drugs into prisons for the Barrio 18 gang.
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Articles by Korea Herald