Highlights: Salvador: 403 suspected gang leaders in pre-trial detention until 2025. These MS-13 leaders are “linked” to 37,402 crimes committed between 2012 and 2022, including “29,416 aggravated homicides” They also face 907 cases of disappearances, extortion, arms trafficking, human trafficking and rebellion. This hearing comes as the official results of Sunday's presidential and legislative elections have still not been published. The outgoing president Nayib Bukele, acclaimed by the population for having started this “war against the gangs”, declared himself re-elected with 85% of the votes.

A court in El Salvador ordered on Friday February 9 the continued pre-trial detention until 2025 of 403 leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13), arrested as part of the state of emergency...

Salvador: 403 suspected gang leaders in pre-trial detention until 2025

A court in El Salvador ordered on Friday February 9 the continued pre-trial detention until 2025 of 403 leaders of the Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS-13), arrested as part of the state of emergency in progress since March 2022.

Alleged members of the Mara Salvatrucha gang appear on a screen during a remote hearing in a mass trial against nearly 500 gang members in San Salvador, February 8, 2024. REUTERS - JOSE CABEZAS

By: RFI Follow

“

The evidence presented establishes the link of all these leaders with the MS structure, which is why the court ordered that all of them remain in pre-trial detention until 2025

,” pending the prosecution presenting new evidence or strengthens evidence already presented, the Attorney General's Office said on the social network X.

According to the prosecution, these MS-13 leaders are “linked” to 37,402 crimes committed between 2012 and 2022, including “29,416 aggravated homicides”. They also face 907 cases of disappearances, extortion, arms trafficking, human trafficking and rebellion.

Also read: In the news: in El Salvador, a virtual trial to judge nearly 500 gang leaders

The San Salvador Organized Crime Court, which led the virtual hearing for detainees in a dozen prisons, also ordered the capture of 89 other MS-13 leaders on the run and facing the same charges.

In total, 492 people are affected by this case. Among them are 24 managers of the higher structure, 215 middle managers and 253 regional managers.

This hearing comes as the official results of Sunday's presidential and legislative elections have still not been published. The outgoing president Nayib Bukele, acclaimed by the population for having started this “war against the gangs”, declared himself re-elected with 85% of the votes.

Read alsoSalvador: President Bukele claims his broad re-election at the head of a country undermined by gangs

Salvador: 403 suspected gang leaders in pre-trial detention until 2025

Salvador: 403 suspected gang leaders in pre-trial detention until 2025

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