Article author:
Associated Press
Sonia Perez D.
Guatemala City (AP) —Guatemalan courts revoke agreement to facilitate prosecution of corruption involving Brazilian construction giant Novonor Yes — a ruling in favor of a former Cabinet official accused of corruption.
The decision announced late Friday adds to a series of moves to reverse efforts to eradicate corruption involving the political and business elites of Central American countries.
The Court of Appeals has revoked the agreement that Novonor promised to provide information about bribes paid in Guatemala to Guatemalan anti-corruption prosecutors.
Action cane in response to an appeal by former Communications Minister Alejandro Sinibaldi, who was accused of receiving a bribe from Odebrecht.
Under pressure from prosecutors in the United States, Brazil and elsewhere, the company has allowed bribes to win contracts with the government throughout Latin America. The company has worked with prosecutors in several countries to regain the right to do business. He reportedly paid $ 17.9 million in bribes to local civil servants, politicians and civilians in Guatemala.
Sinivaldi had fled for six years, but a few days after the anti-corruption prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandval, who was investigating him, was fired after allegations of corruption against President Alejandro Giammatei. Later surrendered to the authorities.
The Jamatai administration and the new prosecution team have begun by their predecessors to cancel a UN-sponsored anti-corruption campaign that brought several senior officials, including the former president, to court. Accelerated efforts. .. They say their prosecution itself was irregular.
Instead, they have filed legal accusations against former anti-corruption officials themselves, more than 20 of whom have fled the country.
The US government has sharply criticized the weakening of anti-corruption efforts and last year canceled the US visa for Attorney General Consueloporus, who was chasing a former prosecutor.
Prosecutor Rafael Kurchiche said in announcing the court's decision that those who signed the agreement did not have the authority to sign, which was indicted by those who had charged corruption cases. He said he supported his investigation into behavior.
Sandoval said, "It's shameful to celebrate the court's decision to leave the proceedings unpunished by prosecutors," among those currently abroad. Said added to the campaign to hurt.
