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[CRIME] · El Salvador · 4 sources

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El Salvador to sentence 485 alleged MS-13 gang leaders

El Salvador is expected to announce sentences this Monday for 485 alleged leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang. The mass trial, which has been ongoing since April, involves more than 47,420 criminal charges related to activities occurring between 2012 and 2022.

Prosecutor Max Muñoz stated that the total prison time for the defendants could reach thousands of years, suggesting that even ten life sentences would not suffice to cover the penalties. The defendants are appearing in court remotely from various prisons.

President Nayib Bukele, who has led a high-profile gang war since 2022 under a state of emergency, has compared the proceedings to the Nuremberg trials. While Bukele maintains high popularity for his security measures, international non-governmental organizations have criticized the government, alleging widespread human rights violations and claiming the mass trial format violates the defendants' right to a fair trial.

Entities

El Salvador · Mara Salvatrucha · Max Muñoz · Nayib Bukele

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