Corruption Detected in
Guatemala Electoral
Court
Two high ranking
officials of the Supreme
Electoral Court (TSE) of
Guatemala have been
dismissed for influence
peddling and corruption
Monday, announced a TSE
magistrate, the entity
in charge of organizing
elections scheduled for
September.
The chief of the
Purchasing Department,
Edgar Villatoro, and
financial deputy
manager, Elmar Porres,
were sanctioned for
irregularities in
purchase bids worth
about $93,000.
Both had family
connections in
businesses hired by TSE
to make blankets to
identify polling places
on Election Day.
According to Judge Angel
Alfredo Figueroa, TSE
internal regulations
participation in bids
from firms having close
connections to
high-ranking officials,
precisely to prevent
illegalities.
TSE was strongly
criticized after
requesting an
unprecedented budget of
$54 million to fund the
election.
Guatemalans will go to
the polls on September 9
to elect a president,
vice president,
deputies, mayors and
local councils of
municipalities.
In case a second round
is needed, it will be
held on Nov 4. |
|
