Guatemala Congress Scam
Unsolved
GUATEMALA - An $11
million misappropriation
of Guatemalan
congressional funds has
not yet been cleared up,
although a key suspect
turned himself in and a
joint effort of several
government bodies is
underway.
Raul Giron, manager of
Mercados de Futuro (MDF),
the firm that laundered
the missing funds, has
been detained for
several days but has not
exposed details of the
operation nor his
allies.
Officials from the
Attorney General's
Office, Bank Supervision
and the Comptroller's
Office took the stand
but have not thrown
light on the case.
None could tell where
the loot went, how much
may be lost or recovered
or what is the true MDF
power to restore those
funds.
Although 19 Congressmen
are involved they only
mention names already
known like Congress ex
Presidents Eduardo Meyer
and Ruben Dario Morales.
A report by Congress
Chairman Aristides
Crespo mentions as
registered signatures
linked to transfers
those of Meyer's Private
Secretary Byron
Barrientos and Congress
ex Finance Director Jose
Conde.
Both escaped before the
arrest warrant was
issued and remain at
large.
MDF Bank Inspector Raul
Falla first said most of
the money was lost in
the US stock market and
it is almost impossible
to recover, but recanted
saying that the volume
of MDF accounts in the
US remains unknown.
As the scandal goes on
the legislators have
lost prestige and
credibility, are
considered inefficient,
overpaid and excessively
privileged. |
