Mass Trial of 485 Alleged MS-13 Members Wraps Up in El Salvador

A three-month virtual proceeding concluded on Wednesday, ending the mass trial of 485 individuals accused of belonging to the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang. Prosecutors presented closing arguments and sought the maximum penalty for each of the 14,420 alleged crimes—including 444 killings, extortion, drug trafficking, arms offenses and human-trafficking violations—committed between 2012 and 2022. Defendants appeared on camera from the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) in Tecoluca, a mega-prison built under President Nayib Bukele where visits, recreation and education are prohibited. The court’s verdict date has not been announced.

Associated Press

El Salvador’s state of emergency, declared in March 2022, suspended several constitutional protections and has led to the detention of more than 92,480 people alleged to have gang ties. A July 2023 amendment to the criminal code permits collective trials that group detainees by gang affiliation or territory, enabling the current mass proceeding. This is the nation’s second such trial; in November 2023, 45 members of the rival Barrio 18 gang were convicted, with one leader receiving a 397-year sentence.

A mass trial of MS-13 gang members in El Salvador wraps up in El Salvador

President Bukele has asserted that the security crackdown has freed 8,000 innocent individuals and remains popular among Salvadorans weary of chronic violence. Government officials note that the prosecution’s request for maximum sentences could result in life imprisonment for some defendants and up to $9 million in civil damages overall.

Associated Press

Human-rights organizations contend the trial violates defendants’ rights under the emergency measures. They have logged more than 6,000 complaints of arbitrary detention and documented at least 547 deaths in custody. Critics argue the process lacks credible evidence and denies a genuine defense.

Associated Press

• “First, the police arrested thousands of people without investigation. Now, the courts are handing down mass convictions to hundreds without credible evidence or any real chance of defense,” — Juan Pappier, Americas deputy director, Human Rights Watch

Associated Press

• “This is not justice; it is giving a veneer of legality to the arrests of innocent people that should never have happened.” — Juan Pappier, Americas deputy director, Human Rights Watch

Associated Press