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El Salvador corruption: 'New evidence' against ex-president | El Salvador corruption: 'New evidence' against ex-president |
(3 days later) | |
El Salvador President Mauricio Funes has said there is new incriminating evidence against former President Francisco Flores, who is facing corruption allegations. | |
Mr Funes said prosecutors in Costa Rica found bank accounts in the name of Mr Flores. | Mr Funes said prosecutors in Costa Rica found bank accounts in the name of Mr Flores. |
The former president had denied under oath having any accounts abroad. | The former president had denied under oath having any accounts abroad. |
The government accuses Mr Flores, who governed between 1999 and 2004, of misusing funds donated by Taiwan. | The government accuses Mr Flores, who governed between 1999 and 2004, of misusing funds donated by Taiwan. |
Mr Flores told a congressional panel in January that he had received cheques worth $10m (£6.5m) from Taiwan during the last two years of his presidency. | Mr Flores told a congressional panel in January that he had received cheques worth $10m (£6.5m) from Taiwan during the last two years of his presidency. |
But Mr Flores denied the funds were for his personal use. He said Taiwan donated the money to El Salvador. | But Mr Flores denied the funds were for his personal use. He said Taiwan donated the money to El Salvador. |
"I would like to say that I have never deposited a cheque from Taiwan's government in any account; that is key for me, to make clear that I have never deposited a cheque from Taiwan's government in any account," Mr Flores told the congressional panel set up to trace the money. | "I would like to say that I have never deposited a cheque from Taiwan's government in any account; that is key for me, to make clear that I have never deposited a cheque from Taiwan's government in any account," Mr Flores told the congressional panel set up to trace the money. |
But Mr Funes said that Costa Rica "will send the documents of the Flores case" this week. | But Mr Funes said that Costa Rica "will send the documents of the Flores case" this week. |
"According to Costa Rican Attorney General [Jorge Chavarria] there are bank accounts in the name of President Flores in Costa Rica," said Mr Funes in his radio programme, Conversando con el Presidente. | "According to Costa Rican Attorney General [Jorge Chavarria] there are bank accounts in the name of President Flores in Costa Rica," said Mr Funes in his radio programme, Conversando con el Presidente. |
'Aid money' | 'Aid money' |
Mr Flores, from the conservative Arena party, said he had asked Taiwan for donations on three occasions. | Mr Flores, from the conservative Arena party, said he had asked Taiwan for donations on three occasions. |
The first time, he said, it was to help reconstruction efforts after two devastating earthquakes killed about 1,500 people and left more than 200,000 homeless in El Salvador in 2001. | The first time, he said, it was to help reconstruction efforts after two devastating earthquakes killed about 1,500 people and left more than 200,000 homeless in El Salvador in 2001. |
Another time he had asked Taiwan for help in combating drug trafficking, and a third donation was to fight crime and gangs, he explained. | Another time he had asked Taiwan for help in combating drug trafficking, and a third donation was to fight crime and gangs, he explained. |
He said that El Salvador enjoyed "a privileged relationship" with Taiwan because it backed the Asian country's membership request to the United Nations. | He said that El Salvador enjoyed "a privileged relationship" with Taiwan because it backed the Asian country's membership request to the United Nations. |
Another Central American leader is facing an inquiry into his dealings with Taiwan. | Another Central American leader is facing an inquiry into his dealings with Taiwan. |
Former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo (2000-2004) told a court in New York last month that he accepted $2.5m (£1.5m) in bribes from Taiwan. | Former Guatemalan President Alfonso Portillo (2000-2004) told a court in New York last month that he accepted $2.5m (£1.5m) in bribes from Taiwan. |
He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money and agreed not to appeal against any prison sentence between four and six years. | He pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to launder money and agreed not to appeal against any prison sentence between four and six years. |
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