Evangelical leaders protest the release of former President Arnoldo Aleman

Trinidad Vásquez, MANAGUA, Nicaragua, July 26, 2005

A judge's decision to ease former President Arnoldo Aleman's house arrest and allow him to Taxi Heathrow Airport be released under family supervision was rejected by numerous Evangelical leaders. The former president is accused of fraud and embezzlement, among other crimes.

"Aleman's release is a calamity for the justice process", said Evenor Jerez, interim director of the Pro Denominational Alliance Council of Evangelical Churches (CEPAD). He affirmed that the measure is political and lobbied the public to demand that the law be upheld.

Pastor Jose Alguera, of the Nazarene Church said that Aleman's release "a man who has embezzled $100 million" is unjust and paved the way to  allow him to run as a presidential candidate in upcoming elections.

On Monday Judge Roxana Zapata allowed Aleman to be released under family supervision although Nicaraguan law restricts this to people over the age of 70 or the terminally ill.

A report from the Legal Medical Institute used by the judge to issue the ruling, indicates that Aleman has 10 chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiovascular problems.

Aleman (58) was president of Nicaragua between 1997 and 2002 and was sentenced to 20 years in jail for misappropriation of public funds, among other crimes.

The family supervision regime cancels the house arrest he was serving in his "El Chile" hacienda and allows him to circulate freely around the country.

The Attorney General announced it would appeal the ruling. Santos Amador, a religious leader who impels the Consumer Defense Network sustained that Aleman's release is an injustice that is being committed in the country.

For Presbyterian Ellen Sherby, who has lived in Nicaragua for the past five years, Aleman's release is worrying and dangerous. She recalled that the former president occupied one of the top positions of the most corrupt leaders in the world according to Transparency International.

The head of the Autonomous Women's Movement, Patricia Orozco, called on Nicaraguans to insist that Aleman be returned to jail. Rafael Cordobo, of the Network for Nicaragua, said that Aleman's release is "shameful" and added that it is "false that he is sick."