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Former legislative leader detained in Guatemala bribe case Former legislative leader detained in Guatemala bribe case
(about 2 hours later)
GUATEMALA CITY — A former leader of Guatemala’s Congress has been arrested on charges of trying to bribe a judge. GUATEMALA CITY — A former leader of Guatemala’s Congress was arrested Wednesday on charges of trying to bribe a judge to issue a ruling favoring the vice president at the time, who is also accused of corruption.
Wednesday’s arrest of Gudy Rivera continues a string of high-profile corruption cases. Ex-President Otto Perez Molina and his Vice President Roxana Baldetti are already behind bars. Gudy Rivera’s arrest continues a string of high-profile graft cases that have already landed former President Otto Perez Molina, his Vice President Roxana Baldetti and others behind bars.
Former judge Claudia Escobar accuses Rivera of trying to bribe her to block a court order removing Baldetti as secretary-general of the Patriot Party, to which Rivera belongs. Rivera was detained in the morning on an arrest warrant from prosecutors, national police spokesman Jorge Aguilar said. He is accused of bribery and influence trafficking.
Escobar voted against Baldetti and was then transferred by judicial authorities. The judge complained of threats and the Inter-American Human Rights Commission ordered that the government take steps to protect her. Arriving at a courthouse in handcuffs and wearing a suit, Rivera, who was considered the then-ruling party’s enforcer and a close associate of Perez Molina, said he was a “man of the law” and would “submit myself to justice.”
Perez Molina and Baldetti face charges of permitting and benefiting from a ring that defrauded the state of millions of dollars. Former Judge Claudia Escobar accused Rivera of trying to bribe her to block a court order in 2014 removing Baldetti as secretary-general of the Patriot Party, to which Rivera belongs.
Escobar voted against Baldetti, complained publicly about the alleged bribery attempt and was transferred by judicial authorities.
The judge complained of threats, and the Inter-American Human Rights Commission ordered that the government take steps to protect her.
Perez Molina and Baldetti resigned last year and have been in custody on charges of permitting and benefiting from a customs graft scheme that defrauded the state of millions of dollars.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.