Press release PR.RPU. P001.R01 - 2012-08-27 - No. 84

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DPNG considers the opinion that support the Attorney José Cevallos before the Second Criminal Judge of Galapagos is a breakthrough for those who violate nature.

Second Judge of Criminal Galapagos, Vera Clemente, issued summons to trial against a German Dirk Bender, who was arrested on July 8 in Baltra airport, where rangers from the Galapagos National Park Directorate (DPNG) and police discovered four iguanas (Conolophus subcristatus), who tried to illegally get into your luggage.

Both accusatory opinion supported by the prosecutor Jose Cevallos Garcia, and the intervention of the GNP, served to call the trial judge.

In addition, the judge denied the bond requested by the defense of the detainee and maintains custody of Dirk Bender, so criminal authority guarantees that the offender appear throughout the process.

In the next stage of these proceedings, the judge is expected to refer the case to the Court of First Galapagos to turn these indicate date and time to put into effect the public hearing of prosecution.

"The decision of the judge today is an important step to establish penalties for those who violate the rights of nature, especially in a place like Galapagos," said Edwin Naula, director of PNG.

As before, a group of citizens and organizations defending nature came to the underside of the court, to ask not to grant bail to the accused. The protesters arrived with placards calling for the German to prison.