More than 400 suspected gang members face trial in El Salvador

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(Credit: Megavision Group)

(CNN Spanish) - More than 400 people captured in February 2018 during the so-called “Operation Cuscatlán” against Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) face justice in El Salvador for various crimes, according to the Attorney General's Office (FGR) .

The majority of defendants face the hearing through the videoconferencing system since they are imprisoned in different penalties, among them the maximum security located in Zacatecoluca, department of La Paz, about 59 kilometers from San Salvador.

The Prosecutor's Office accuses the detainees, according to a statement from the Judicial Center, of various crimes, among these nine cases of proposition and conspiracy in the crime of aggravated homicide, three cases of aggravated homicide, arms trafficking, terrorist organizations and illegal groups.

One of the first to testify is a witness with opportunity criteria identified with the key "Noah", who in exchange for his account is not charged.

"Noah" was a member of the structure and has reported in the trial that the gang agreed in 2012 to reduce the murders in exchange for transfers and the introduction of cell phones to the prisons to unify the gang, said the statement from the Judicial Center.

According to the Communications Unit of the Judicial Center, the specialized sentencing court estimates that the trial will continue until November 1 due to the number of defendants, the number of witnesses to be declared, as well as the evidence of charge and discharge that will be provided by the Prosecutor's Office and the lawyers of the accused.