18
Bureau of Criminal Investigations filed a report on the case whereby it stated that “in the
investigations of the instant case, various important interests will be affected and, in any
case, the investigation officers assigned to the case are in serious danger.”49
59.
After that report, there is no proof of new evidentiary practices but until mid 2003,
once proceedings in the instant case commenced before the Inter-American Commission
(supra para. 1). Hence, on August 29, 2003, upon request by the prosecutor in charge, the
Criminal Magistrate’s Court of the city of Tela received an extension of the statement
rendered by one of the witnesses to the events,50 who indicated that he had been
threatened by police "sergeant Perdomo”, as a consequence of his testimony51 (supra para.
55). Furthermore, on October 30, 2003, the General Bureau of Criminal Investigations,
formerly the Bureau of Criminal Investigations (hereinafter, the “DGIC”), received the
statements of eight individuals, some of whom had rendered testimony in 1995.52
60.
During proceedings, the coordinators of the DGIC filed various reports on the
investigation activities carried out in the instant case.53 In general, these reports explain
various hypotheses as regards the responsibility for the murder of Mrs. Blanca Jeannette
Kawas-Fernández, mentioning as a motive the possible conflicts with the environmental
activity carried out by the alleged victim. These reports highlight indications as to the
participation of public officers in the planning of the events and obstructing of the
investigation.54 Furthermore, it is restated that certain witnesses to the case "could be in
49
Cf. memorandum addressed to Bureau of Criminal Investigations director Wilfredo Alvarado, supra note
44.
50
Cf. official letter of the Attorney General’s Office of August 26, 2003 before the Criminal Magistrate’s Court
in and for Tela (record of appendixes to the answer to the application, appendix 8, folio 2189).
51
Cf. statement by Dencen Alex Andino-Alvarado rendered on August 29, 2003 (record of appendixes to the
answer to the application, appendix 8, folio 2191), and statement by Dencen Alex Andino-Alvarado rendered on
December 9, 2003 (record of appendixes to the brief of requests and arguments, appendix L.9, folio 1706).
52
Cf. statement by Isdenia Enid Ramírez rendered on October 29, 2003, before the General Bureau of
Criminal Investigations (record of appendixes to the answer to the application, appendix 8, folios 2346); statement
by Rosendo Aguilar rendered on October 29, 2003, before the General Bureau of Criminal Investigations (record of
appendixes to the answer to the application, appendix 8, folios 2348); statement by Trinidad Marcial BuenoRomero rendered on October 30, 2003, before the General Bureau of Criminal Investigations (record of appendixes
to the answer to the application, appendix 8, folios 2349); statement by Juan Mejía-Gómez rendered on October
30, 2003, before the General Bureau of Criminal Investigations (record of appendixes to the answer to the
application, appendix 8, folios 2351); statement by Sabas Gómez rendered on October 30, 2003, before the
General Bureau of Criminal Investigations (record of appendixes to the answer to the application, appendix 8, folios
2355 to 2357); statement by Carlos Antonio Quintana rendered on October 30, 2003, before the General Bureau of
Criminal Investigations (record of appendixes to the answer to the application, appendix 8, folio 2358), and
statement by Dencen Alex Andino-Alvarado rendered on October 30, 2003, before the General Bureau of Criminal
Investigations (record of appendixes to the answer to the application, appendix 8, folios 2360 to 2363).
53
Cf. investigation report of the General Bureau of Criminal Investigations of October 30, 2003, signed by Daniel
Barahona, supra note 31; official letter of December 7, 2006, sent by the General Bureau of Criminal Investigations
to the Court of First Instance in and for Tela, Atlántida (record of appendixes to the answer to the application,
appendix 8, folios 2431 and 2432); report of November 27, 2006, addressed to the General Director of Criminal
Investigations (record of appendixes to the brief of requests and arguments, appendix L.17, folios 1747 to 1750);
briefs of February 19, 2008, sent by inspector Evin Salinas, “Head of the Environmental Death Investigation Unit”
to prosecutor Sandra Ponce of the General Bureau of Criminal Investigations (record of appendixes to the answer
to the application, appendix 8, folios 2537 to 2544).
54
Cf. expert opinion by Clarisa Vega-Molina at the public hearing held before the Inter-American Court on
December 2, 2008.