Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutor flees country after sacking
3 years, 5 months ago

Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutor flees country after sacking

Al Jazeera  

Juan Francisco Sandoval fled early on Saturday after being dismissed in a move that sparked international condemnation. Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval fled the country early on Saturday, hours after being sacked in a move that sparked international outrage. Attorney General Porras’s firing of anti-corruption champion Juan Francisco Sandoval is an outrageous move. “Attorney General Porras’s firing of anti-corruption champion Juan Francisco Sandoval is an outrageous move,” Samantha Power, administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, wrote on Twitter on Saturday morning. “The Guatemalan people deserve better.” Ivan Velasquez, the former head of the UN anti-corruption commission expelled from Guatemala, called Sandoval’s removal “an illegal, arbitrary and criminal act”.

International Corruption Prosecutor Ortiz Guatemala Sandoval Guatemalan Porras Juan Francisco Sandoval Juan Francisco  prosecutor  country  sandoval  guatemalan  juan  francisco  anticorruption  international  flees  sacking  guatemala  removal  corruption  general

History of this topic

Why is the Guatemala attorney general going after the new president?
11 months ago

Why is the Guatemala attorney general going after the new president?

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — Despite having the support of millions of Guatemalans, newly installed President Bernardo Arévalo has a clear obstacle — the attorney general’s office and its leader, Consuelo Porras. A demonstrator holds up a protest poster of Attorney General Consuelo Porras outside her office during a rally in support of the electoral process in Guatemala City, July 14, 2023. …

U.S. bars ex-Guatemala president from entry, three days after he left office
11 months, 1 week ago

U.S. bars ex-Guatemala president from entry, three days after he left office

LA Times  

The State Department barred former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei from entry into the U.S., citing “significant corruption.” The U.S. State Department barred former Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei from entry into the United States on Wednesday — three days after he left office — citing “significant corruption.” The Biden administration had become increasingly critical of Giammattei’s administration as Guatemalan prosecutors pursued …

Top anticorruption prosecutor from Guatemala receives asylum in the US
1 year, 3 months ago

Top anticorruption prosecutor from Guatemala receives asylum in the US

Al Jazeera  

The decision came two years after Juan Francisco Sandoval fled Guatemala in the dead of night, fearing arrest. The official who sought his removal, Attorney General Maria Consuelo Porras, indicated she would pursue Sandoval on charges that he made “constant” and “frequent abuses” of his authority. Sandoval’s sudden removal from his high-ranking post and his subsequent exile helped trigger anticorruption …

United Nations expresses ‘concern’ over Guatemala investigations
1 year, 11 months ago

United Nations expresses ‘concern’ over Guatemala investigations

Al Jazeera  

Critics say the accusations against Iván Velásquez are the latest attack against anti-corruption officials in Guatemala. The United Nations has issued a statement expressing “concern” after Guatemala announced it would investigate a former anti-corruption investigator assigned to the country. Iván Velásquez, a Colombian who led the UN’s anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala from 2013 to 2019, is under investigation for “illegal, …

Another anti-graft figure leaves top post in Guatemala
2 years, 4 months ago

Another anti-graft figure leaves top post in Guatemala

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — One of the last remaining official pillars of Guatemala’s effort to root out corruption leaves his post this week, following the ouster or departure of a series of other anti-graft campaigners who had shaken the Central American nation’s governing class. His repeated court efforts to block government actions so irked then-President Jimmy Morales that he dubbed Rodas …

Guatemalan journalist calls charges against him a ‘set-up’
2 years, 4 months ago

Guatemalan journalist calls charges against him a ‘set-up’

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — A prominent Guatemalan journalist’s initial hearing before a judge was suspended Wednesday when the judge announced that the defendant’s lawyers were also targets of the government’s investigation. Following the hearing, José Rubén Zamora, president of the newspaper El Periodico, said that the case “is a set-up effectively designed and mounted by the president, attorney general and other …

Guatemala court blocks anti-corruption agreement
2 years, 5 months ago

Guatemala court blocks anti-corruption agreement

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — A Guatemalan court has tossed out an agreement that made it easier to prosecute bribery involving the Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht — a ruling that favors a former cabinet official accused of corruption. The appeals court annulled an agreement under which Odebrecht had promised to give Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutors information about bribes it had paid in Guatemala …

Guatemala reappoints criticized attorney general to 2nd term
2 years, 7 months ago

Guatemala reappoints criticized attorney general to 2nd term

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala’s president reappointed to a second term Monday his attorney general who the U.S. government said is involved “in significant corruption,” disappointing many Guatemalans and foreign governments critical of her backsliding on corruption investigations. Hours after her reappointment, the U.S. State Department announced that it was designating Porras for “her involvement in significant corruption.” The authority under …

Anti-corruption Guatemalan judge resigns and flees to the US
2 years, 9 months ago

Anti-corruption Guatemalan judge resigns and flees to the US

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — A Guatemalan judge considered key in fighting corruption announced her resignation on Monday and that she has decided to leave the Central American country. Judge Erika Aifán has presided over corruption cases against businessmen, officials, judges and lawmakers, and she was recently overseeing an investigation about alleged irregularities during current President Alejandro Giammattei’s campaign. Aifán is the …

Guatemala files more charges against ex-prosecutor
3 years ago

Guatemala files more charges against ex-prosecutor

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — Prosecutors in Guatemala said Tuesday they have filed more charges against a former anti-corruption prosecutor who fled to the United States in July. The charges against Juan Francisco Sandoval appear to be the latest round in attempts by the government to interfere with anti-corruption efforts. Prosecutors said the charges of abuse of authority, fraud and conspiracy relate …

Guatemala’s former anti-corruption prosecutor faces arrest
3 years, 3 months ago

Guatemala’s former anti-corruption prosecutor faces arrest

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemalan officials confirmed Friday they are trying to arrest a fired anti-corruption prosecutor whose ouster led the United States to reduce cooperation with the Central American nation’s legal system. The arrest warrant for Juan Francisco Sandoval was confirmed by the spokesman for the prosecutor’s office, Juan Luis Pantaleón, a day after Attorney General Consuelo Porras said on …

Probe begins into alleged bribe involving Guatemala’s president
3 years, 3 months ago

Probe begins into alleged bribe involving Guatemala’s president

Al Jazeera  

Prosecutors in Guatemala have begun an investigation into allegations that Russian businessmen paid a bribe to President Alejandro Giammattei to obtain a dock in one of the country’s main ports, the attorney general’s office said on Friday. Juan Luis Pantaleon, spokesman for the Guatemalan attorney general’s office, said anti-corruption prosecutors had opened the probe, underlining that Giammattei was not currently …

Guatemala draws fire for new anti-corruption prosecutor
3 years, 4 months ago

Guatemala draws fire for new anti-corruption prosecutor

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala named a new anti-corruption prosecutor Tuesday, two weeks after the previous one was fired and fled the country, citing fears for his safety. His appointment seemed unlikely to quell international criticism or calm street protests against corruption following the departure of former anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval. “Moreover, he has a history of not being an …

Guatemala appoints controversial new anti-corruption prosecutor
3 years, 4 months ago

Guatemala appoints controversial new anti-corruption prosecutor

Al Jazeera  

Move comes after sacking of former anti-corruption prosecutor spurred mass protests and international criticism. Guatemala’s attorney general, under fire for sacking the country’s top anti-corruption prosecutor last month, has appointed a controversial new figure to take up the post. Sandoval led the Guatemalan Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity, created to tackle investigations spearheaded by the United Nations-backed International Commission Against …

Guatemalans protest president, attorney general
3 years, 4 months ago

Guatemalans protest president, attorney general

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — Thousands of Guatemalans took to the streets in protest Thursday, blocking highways and calling for a national strike over the government’s apparent unwillingness to tackle corruption. Pressure has been building since Attorney General Consuelo Porras fired anti-corruption special prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval on July 23. In response, the United States government this week said that it had …

Guatemalan protesters demand resignation of President Giammattei
3 years, 4 months ago

Guatemalan protesters demand resignation of President Giammattei

Al Jazeera  

Indigenous demonstrators are calling for the president and the attorney general to step down as government corruption increases. San Lucas Sacatepequez, Guatemala – Tens of thousands of Guatemalans took to the street to demand the resignation of the country’s president and attorney general due to the administration’s lack of willingness to address corruption. “The decisions they make do not favour …

US suspends cooperation with Guatemala attorney general
3 years, 4 months ago

US suspends cooperation with Guatemala attorney general

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — The U.S. government has suspended cooperation with Guatemala’s Attorney General’s Office in response to the firing of its top anti-corruption prosecutor, saying Tuesday that it has “lost confidence” in the Central American country’s willingness to fight corruption. U.S. State Department deputy spokeswoman Jalina Porter told reporters in Washington that the decision by Guatemala Attorney General Consuelo Porras …

US curbs work with Guatemala after anti-corruption leader removed
3 years, 4 months ago

US curbs work with Guatemala after anti-corruption leader removed

Al Jazeera  

Juan Francisco Sandoval was sacked last week as the head of a prosecution unit charged with tackling corruption. The United States has said it will pause some cooperation with Guatemala’s criminal prosecutor after the head of a unit charged with fighting corruption in the Central American nation was sacked late last week. US State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter told reporters …

Concern rises over anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala
3 years, 4 months ago

Concern rises over anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala

The Independent  

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The firing of Guatemala’s top anti-corruption prosecutor and new allegations …

Concern rises over anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala
3 years, 4 months ago

Concern rises over anti-corruption efforts in Guatemala

Associated Press  

GUATEMALA CITY — The firing of Guatemala’s top anti-corruption prosecutor and new allegations that someone close to the attorney general was soliciting bribes for protection from investigations have increased concerns that what little capacity the country still had to battle corruption is being dismantled from within. Then Sunday, lawyer Marco Aurelio Alveño Hernández said he had told Sandoval’s office that …

Anti-corruption prosecutor praised by US flees Guatemala
3 years, 5 months ago

Anti-corruption prosecutor praised by US flees Guatemala

Associated Press  

LAS CHINAMAS, El Salvador — Anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval fled Guatemala late Friday, arriving in neighboring El Salvador just hours after he was removed from his post. Consuelo Porras, Guatemala’s attorney general, had accused the former head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity of “abuses” without specifying what they were. Julie Chung, the U.S. acting assistant secretary of …

Guatemala attorney general fires top anti-corruption prosecutor
3 years, 5 months ago

Guatemala attorney general fires top anti-corruption prosecutor

Al Jazeera  

Juan Francisco Sandoval was dismissed as head of a special anti-corruption agency against impunity. Guatemala’s attorney general has removed an internationally known corruption prosecutor from his post as head of the anti-corruption unit, prompting criticism that the move was a setback to the rule of law. “Given the imminent lack of trust in the relationship, today his employment is terminated,” …

US sanctions Guatemala officials ahead of Harris meeting
3 years, 7 months ago

US sanctions Guatemala officials ahead of Harris meeting

Al Jazeera  

The US sanctions target a member of Guatemala’s Congress and a former presidential chief of staff over alleged corruption. In a statement, the US Department of the Treasury said it had blacklisted Felipe Alejos Lorenzana, an elected delegate in Guatemala’s Congress, and Gustavo Adolfo Alejos Cambara, who was chief of staff under former President Alvaro Colom. A senior US official …

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