Guatemala Elite Accused of Coopting Govt to Run Huge Fraud Ring
Guatemala Elite Accused of Coopting Govt to Run Huge Fraud Ring
Published 15 June 2016
Former President Otto Perez Molina and his Vice President Roxana Baldetti are accused of operating a corruption scheme that stole millions through state institutions.
Guatemalan prosecutors began presenting evidence on Tuesday to bring charges against over 50 defendants, including former President Otto Perez Molina and former Vice President Roxana Baldetti, for a massive multi-million dollar government corruption scandal involving a slew of crimes including money laundering, bribery, and illegal campaign financing.
The trial, which kicked off on Monday, continues the probe into government fraud that picked up speed last year as investigators unravelled an intricate customs fraud network, known as La Linea, in the country’s Tax Authority.
Perez Molina and Baldetti, who both stepped down last year under massive social movement pressure, are accused of heading the corruption ring that allegedly stole more than US$1 million. Fraud in other institutions, including bribes for contracts, and illegal campaign financing swept up as much as over US$100 million more.
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http://www.telesurtv.net/english/news/Guatemala-Elite-Accused-of-Coopting-Govt-to-Run-Huge-Fraud-Ring-20160615-0001.html