In a groundbreaking mass trial, close to 500 purported members of the infamous Mara Salvatrucha gang, commonly known as MS-13, were virtually present in court through video transmission from a state-of-the-art maximum-security prison facility.
Officials in El Salvador have attributed a staggering 47,000 criminal acts, which include approximately 29,000 homicides committed between 2012 and 2022, to the Mara Salvatrucha gang.
The defendants, connecting from the highly secure Counter-Terrorism Confinement Center, are facing allegations of attempting to establish an independent governing body described as a “parallel state” by the Attorney General’s Office.
Alleged individuals linked to the Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) participated in a remote court session through video conferencing.
MS-13 members were collectively present in a remote group court proceeding.
A total of about 490 accused individuals, including the organization’s leaders, are currently undergoing a joint trial.
The defendants observed the proceedings via video link from the technologically advanced Counter-Terrorism Confinement Center, situated in Tecoluca, El Salvador.