Honduran police arrest journalist convicted of defamation

TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras — Honduran police have broken down the door of a radio station and arrested a journalist known as a strong critic of President Juan Orlando Hernandez who had holed up inside, carrying out an arrest order against the reporter for a defamation conviction.

David Romero, director of Radio Globo, was given a 10-year prison sentence in 2016 after he was convicted on several counts of defamation for his reporting on the wife of an ex-attorney general. Honduras’ Supreme Court rejected Romero’s bid for a new trial earlier this year.

The journalist took refuge in the station’s offices Monday when a court made public its decision to arrest him.

Local media showed footage of police violently breaking into Radio Globo on Thursday, knocking down doors and searching offices until they found Romero. /kga