José Santos Melara, known as Pepe, must urgently be transferred to a hospital to treat his illnesses, according to a judicial source involved in his case and that of 10 other individuals, including former combatants and war veterans.
Melara suffers from diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and chronic sinusitis, conditions that have worsened since his arrest on May 31, 2024.
While in custody, the defendant has reported ulcers on both feet and irritable bowel syndrome, conditions that necessitate outpatient treatment at a hospital, according to a report from the Instituto de Medicina Legal (Institute of Legal Medicine, IML).
He requires treatment from specialists in endocrinology, otolaryngology, and an internist. Lawyers hope that he can receive specialized medical care in the coming days.
Ivania Cruz, his lawyer, recently mentioned that Melara’s health situation has caused concern and emphasized the necessity of medical attention and hospital transfer “because he already had a complicated medical history before his arrest. We do not know the current state of his condition.”
Melara, along with other former combatants and war veterans, was arrested on May 31 for allegedly planning terrorist attacks during the June 1 inauguration.
On June 14, the First Court Against Organized Crime ordered provisional detention for all the defendants. They were subsequently transferred to the La Occidental prison in Santa Ana.