Nearly 500 accused gangsters face collective trial in El Salvador

Nearly 500 alleged gang leaders face a collective trial in El Salvador, a practice criticized by human rights groups.

The 486 defendants standing trial are accused of ordering over 47,000 crimes by the MS-13 gang between 2012 and 2022, according to the Salvadoran government.

They are being tried for homicide, femicide, extortion, arms trafficking and disappearances.

The trial follows a 2023 Penal Code reform under an ongoing state of emergency, which suspends fundamental rights and extends detention without a hearing.

Human rights organizations have criticized this measure and the four-year long emergency for violating due process and human rights.