5 Perpetrators Of The Murder Of Ecuadorian Presidential Candidates Sentenced To Prison, Longest 34 Years Old

Photo illustration. (Doc. Pexels)

JAKARTA - Five perpetrators of premeditated murder against Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio were sentenced to prison on Friday, July 12, local time.

It is known that Villavicencio, who is a politician, a member of the labor union, and also had a career as a journalist, was shot dead by a group of motorized men on August 9 last year while leaving school in Ecuador's capital, Quito, after the campaign. This incident also injured 13 others.

Launching The Guardian, Saturday, July 13, two people accused of masterminding the murder were each sentenced to 34 years and 8 months in prison. Meanwhile, three of his gangs were thrown into prison for 12 years. Prosecutors accused at least two of the defendants of being members of the Los Lobos criminal gang, which was included in 22 criminal gangs designated as terrorists by President Daniel Noboa in January.

According to the prosecutor's office, one of the masterminds of the murder, Carlos Angulo, aka "Invisible", coordinated the killings from prison in Ecuador via video conference with other people who have not been tried. The order was even recorded on their cellphones.

Meanwhile, Laura Castillo, another brain, is tasked with providing logistics for hitmen, including motorbikes and money. The three gangs - Erick Rambakrez, Vvistor Flores, and Alexandra Chimbo - are tasked with informing the killers about the victim's movement.

The Prosecutor's Office previously demanded a maximum sentence for the five defendants. The sentences for Angulo and Castillo included compensation payments of 100,000 US dollars each (equivalent to Rp1.61 billion) to the families of the victims. The other three defendants were required to pay compensation of US$33,000 (equivalent to Rp531.7 billion), respectively.

During the trial, it was reported that Villavicencio's family and friends demonstrated in Quito carrying posters, photos of Villavicencio, and flags as the judge read out the verdict.

As a journalist, Villavicencio is known to vocally uncover corruption and relations between criminal organizations and politicians. He even reported receiving threats, but authorities have never revealed the motive for the murder.

A total of 13 people were initially indicted in this case, including several Colombians who died in Guayaquil and Quito prisons last October while undergoing pre-trial detention.