Suspected mastermind of journalist's 2004 murder detained in Monagas*

April 5, 2007 (IPYS/IFEX) - On 5 March 2007, Judge Ilsia Pérez, the fifth supervisory judge of the criminal circuit (juez Quinta de Control del Circuito Judicial) of Monagas state, ordered Ceferino García arrested; he is charged with masterminding the 1 September 2004 murder of journalist Mauro Marcano in Maturín, the capital of Monagas, in eastern Venezuela.

García will remain in custody at the Criminal Internment Centre (Internado Judicial) in Monagas while the investigation of the case is being completed.

The prosecutor's office had until 3 April to present the findings of the investigation, which will determine whether the charges against García will go to trial or be dismissed.

Marcano was shot dead when he was leaving his home. The two direct perpetrators have been identified, but are currently at large. Before his murder, the journalist had reported that García was the head of a drug-trafficking and money-laundering network. Marcano was a columnist with "El Oriental" newspaper and had a public affairs programme on Radio Maturín station.