Guatemala
Removes Prison Staff For
Suspected Crime Complicity
Guatemala - The
Guatemalan authorities have dismissed from
duty 37 prison staff for suspected
complicity in crimes committed by convicts
under their supervision, the Interior
Ministry said in a Sunday statement.
The dismissal was ordered after a search of
convicts on Saturday last week at the El
Boqueron prison where the prosecutor's
office staff had found such illegal items as
six pistols, 171 bullets, one hand grenade,
20 pairs of scissors, 13 knives, three
razors, 5.4 kilograms of marijuana, 33
mobile phones,43,932 quetzals (5,398 U.S.
dollars) and 28 dollars.
Guatemalan Interior Minister Raul Velasquez
said that convicts had obtained that money
through extortion against traders and
transport personnel.
The interior minister told the press that
those who had been removed from prison
duties included wardens, officers and guards
who are now being interrogated.
"We are awaiting the charges and they will
be taken to court for trial," Velasquez
said.
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