IPA condemns court action against PRH Peru and Acosta

The International Publishers Association has condemned Peru’s court action against the director-general of PRH Peru and its author, journalist Christopher Acosta.

On Monday (10th January) a judge in Lima convicted Acosta and Jerónimo Pimentel, director-general of PRH Peru, on charges of "aggravated defamation" over Acosta’s book Plato Como Cancha: Secretos, Ipunidad y Fortuna de César Acuña, (Money Like Popcorn: Secrets, Impunity, and the Fortune of César Acuña), published by Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial in February.

The book is described as “an exhaustive journalistic investigation that reveals the secrets, impunity and fortune of the Peruvian politician César Acuña”. Acuña is a former mayor, governor, and congressman who made a bid for the Peruvian presidency in April.

The court immediately suspended two-year jail sentences for the men, but ordered total payment in damages in the region of 400,000 Peruvian soles (£74,950), Publishing Perspectives reported. 

Acosta and PRH Peru have said they will appeal. Kristenn Einarsson, chair of the Freedom to Publish committee a the International Publishers Association (IPA), said the IPA stands "in full support of the publisher and author in their appeal" adding: "Defamation cases are used to silence authors and publishers. The severity of this judgment and its inclusion of the c.e.o of a publishing house will cast a dark shadow over freedom of expression and the freedom to publish in Peru."

A number of embassies (see tweet below) and the United Nations in Peru also tweeted their condemnation, with the latter saying: “Freedom of expression, including freedom of the press, as the basis of any democracy, is one of the most fundamental human rights" they said, reiterating they advcoate "for the strict respect of this right in any part of the world and work every day to strengthen it”.

A statement released by PRH Peru said “although it is respectful of judicial decisions" it has challenged the sentence "so that a higher inquiry may revoke it". It said: “At Penguin Random House Grupo Editorial we believe in and encourage the free and responsible exercise of freedom of expression, which is why we do not find factual or legal support for the ruling issued by Judge Vega. We trust that a higher hearing will better weigh the facts and rights in conflict in this case.

“We are convinced that books, the stories they tell, and the ideas they convey, have the power to strengthen dialogue and social cohesion, to change and enrich us, and contribute decisively to creating a better future for generations to come.”

Markus Dohle, global c.e.o of PRH said: “Penguin Random House has an unwavering commitment to responsibly publishing books that drive the cultural conversation and political debate. The authors and publishing talent are indispensable in this pursuit. And while we respect the rule of law, we firmly believe that this judicial sentence will chill free speech and political debate and we fully support the decision to appeal the criminal sentence imposed on author Christopher Acosta and the General Director of Penguin Random House Perú, Jerónimo Pimentel.

"A better future for generations to come necessitates robust and uninhibited public discussion. Our highest civic duty is to inform that public discourse and foster a deeper understanding of issues and ideas through long-form reading."