Leading opposition party in Guatemala tainted by money-laundering scandal.
| Autor | Reynolds, Louisa |
After the Comision Internacional contra la Impunidad en Guatemala (CICIG) revealed details of top government officials' involvement in a massive customs-fraud network, triggering a scandal that led to the resignation of former vice president Roxana Baldetti (NotiCen, April 23, 2015), a new investigation has tainted the country's main opposition party with money-laundering allegations.
On July 15, CICIG revealed that Libertad Democratica Renovada (LIDER) vice presidential candidate, Edgar Barquin Duran, his brother, Deputy Manuel Barquin Duran, and Deputy Jaime Martinez Lohaiza were involved in laundering US $937 million that was later used to finance political activities. Edgar Barquin's alleged involvement in these activities dates back to 2008 when he served as president of the Banco de Guatemala and the Junta Monetaria.
CICIG's investigation is based on recorded conversations among the Barquin Duran brothers, Deputy Martinez Lohaiza, and alleged money launderer Edgar Francisco Morales Guerra, known as "Chico Dolar."
The Barquin Duran brothers as well as Deputy Martinez belong to the opposition LIDER party, which is leading the polls.
CICIG says Morales Guerra was the legal representative of some 200 front companies used to launder the proceeds of illegal activities in US, Japan, Hong Kong, Colombia, and China, among other countries. The funds were then allegedly sent back to Guatemala, disguised as remittances, and used to fund the presidential campaign of the Gran Alianza Nacional (GANA) in 2011.
The investigation has also revealed that officials from Guatemala's internal revenue service as well as employees from a well-known banking institution were involved in the scam.
Edgar Barquin Duran is accused of using his position as president of the Banco de Guatemala to block investigations into suspicious transactions by Morales Guerra, and Edgar's brother, Deputy Barquin, is accused of using congressional offices to plan the network's illegal activities.
Edgar Barquin could be barred from running for office
Following the revelations, CICIG and Guatemalan prosecutors have requested that the Barquin Duran brothers as well as Deputy Martinez be stripped of their prosecutorial immunity.
LIDER's presidential candidate, Manuel Baldizon, denies the allegations against his party members and accused CICIG of colluding with President Otto Perez Molina to launch a smear campaign against him and divert attention from the massive customs-fraud scandal...
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