Ortega Drops Immunity in Stepdaughter's Abuse Case

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Thursday December 13 10:27 PM ET (via yahoo)

Nicaragua's Ortega Drops Immunity in Sex Abuse Case

By Ivan Castro

MANAGUA, Nicaragua (Reuters) - Sandinista leader and former Nicaragua
President Daniel Ortega has surrendered his immunity from prosecution
as a member of the National Assembly to face his stepdaughter's
sexual abuse accusations.

Ortega, who lost his third bid to return to the presidency in Nov. 4
elections, went to a criminal court in Managua on Wednesday to
declare his innocence and voluntarily give up his legislative
immunity.

`The election campaign is over. The elections are over. And I believe
this is an opportune moment to close this case,'' said Ortega, who
ruled Nicaragua as the head of the leftist Sandinista party from 1979
to 1990.

`We reject these accusations. I'm innocent and I hope justice will be
done.''

His stepdaughter, Zoilamerica Narvaez, a 33-year-old sociologist,
shook the Sandinista party in 1998 when she accused Ortega of
sexually assaulting her over many years and during his presidency.

Narvaez has accused Ortega in the courts, but he rejected the charges
and until now has shielded himself with the immunity that is the
privilege of all Nicaraguan legislators.

Narvaez said on Thursday she was surprised Ortega had given up his
immunity, and that she had evidence to win his conviction in court.

`If the legal process goes ahead in line with the law and is
transparent, I am sure I have in my hands the evidence to demonstrate
that Daniel Ortega is a sexual offender and is responsible for all
the damages I suffered over 19 years as a result of sexual
violence,'' she said.

Ortega is the first Nicaraguan leader voluntarily to surrender
immunity.

He said he made the decision after consulting with his wife, Rosario
Murillo, who is the Narvaez's mother, and with his other children.

Narvaez has gone to the Inter-American Human Rights Commission, a
body attached to the Organization of American States, complaining
that Nicaraguan courts have unfairly delayed justice in her case.

 
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