Alfredo Lopez Alvarez v Honduras, ICHR (2001)

Date: 03 December 2001

Alfredo Lopez Alvarez, a leader within the Afro-descendant community of Honduras, was arrested and detained on suspicion of drug trafficking. He was a passenger in a car pulled over and searched for drugs. Cocaine, marijuana and crack cocaine were found and tested on the scene. He was detained and coerced into a confession, despite claims from his community of a police set-up to silence his human rights activities. He was held in pre-trial detention for almost 6 years. A secondary test later contradicted the purity of the substances. The Commission held the case as admissible for consideration.

Citation: Alfredo Lopez Alvarez v Honduras (Admissibility Decision) ICHR (3 Dec 2001) Report No. 124/01