After a long day of protests and strikes on various bus lines in the Buenos Aires suburbs, the two drivers arrested this morning for assaulting Sergio Berni in a demonstration were releasedfollowing undergoing an investigation in which they refused to testify.
The bus drivers, identified as Jorge Galiano, 49, and Jorge Zerda, 32They were arrested in an impressive operation that was deployed in the western area of Greater Buenos Aires during the night of Wednesday and the early hours of this Thursday. Finally, following submitting to inquiry, both regained their freedom.
In parallel, following it became known that both drivers had been released, from the UTA confirmed that they will lift the collective strike that was carried out during this day and that took 16 lines of the Almafuerte and Nueva Ideal companies out of circulation, among them, the one that operated Peter Barrientosthe driver murdered last Monday in La Matanza, in an armed assault.
The impressive operation carried out jointly between the Buenos Aires Police and the City Police to arrest the bus drivers accused of assaulting Berni in the protest for the murder of Barrientos, was the focus of criticism from various political and union leaders.
Among them was Vice President Cristina Kirchner herself, who, through her Twitter account, questioned the magnitude of the deployment “as if it were regarding apprehending a drug dealer in his bunker«.
The bus drivers refused to testify in the investigation.
“At my indication they refused to testify. The evidence was read to them and the Prosecutor’s Office maintained the investigation, respected due process and they are now released. Surely there will be an opportunity for them to apologize to the minister,” the lawyer for the defendants told the press, Silvio Piorno.
Upon leaving the Prosecutor’s Office, the lawyer assured that his clients “are sorry for what happened” in relation to the Barrientos crime, although he indicated that “pain does not justify the aggression.”
“Slowly, I’m not a malandra, I’m a bus driver”
A shocking video released this Thursday showed the moment in which the bus driver Jorge Galiano was arrested at the door of his house, in the Merlo district of Buenos Aires. “Slowly, I’m not a malandra, I’m a bus driver“, the driver managed to say, while a dozen armed troops with shields entered his homes to reduce him, and then take him into custody.
According to the expert opinion of the images taken by the media and security cameras in the area, Galiano was identified as one of the drivers who last Monday, in a protest for the murder of Daniel Barrientos, physically attacked the Buenos Aires Minister of Security, Sergio Berni. Together with him, Jorge Zerda was also apprehended32 years old, at his home in the La Matanza district.
To comment on this note you must have your digital access.
Subscribe to add your opinion!
Subscribe
