Trial against former President Portillo begins in Guatemala

[News_Editor]

Trial against former President Portillo begins in Guatemala

2011-01-22 04:03:25 GMT+7 (ICT)

GUATEMALA (BNO NEWS) -- The Eleventh Tribunal on Friday began the trail against former President Alfonso Portillo accused of embezzlement charges, Prensa Libre newspaper reported.

In addition to Portillo, two former officials were also charged of embezzlement. Former Defense Minister Eduardo Arévalo Lacs and former Finance Minister Manuel Maza Castellanos are also on the trial.

The three individuals were charged with embezzling approximately 120 million quetzals ($15.35 million) from the Defense Ministry fund. The money was deposited into personal accounts.

Former president Portillo, 58, is also wanted in the U.S. for allegedly embezzling foreign donations for education projects. However, he must be tried in his own country first before being extradited.

Portillo fled to Mexico after his presidential term ended but Mexican authorities deported him back to Guatemala in 2008. While he was president, Portillo vowed to end corruption in the Central American country.

Arévalo Lacs and Maza Castellanos avoided being sent to preventive prison after attorneys successfully presented a request for home arrest for both former officials instead.

However, state prosecutors alleged that they are concerned that the former ministers may flee the country and thus delaying trial and judicial procedures. Prosecutors appealed the home arrest decision and are awaiting resolution.

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