Trial against Ex
Guatemala President Stopped
GUATEMALA - Too many appeals, presented by
the defense lawyers, keep the trial for
several crimes against ex Guatemala's
President Alfonso Portillo halted, eight
months after the proceedings began.
Eight of the mentioned appeals are the
hindrance to be able to hold a hearing to
begin the trial. Six of them were lodged for
protection; one is constitutional and the
other for a judge's excuse, also covering
also 10 then military men that are involved.
Portillo is accused of embezzlement,
authority abuse and of having taken in 2001,
from the Defense Ministry, 120 million
quetzals, the equivalent at the current rate
of exchange to $14.6 million.
Of those presented by the defense lawyers,
three appeals have to do with the ex
president's refusal to leave the case in the
hands of the International Commission
against Impunity in Guatemala.
Portillo, who governed Guatemala from
2000-2004 and is considered the most corrupt
president in this country's history, was
broad for four years, after escaping when
the changes pressed against him were
disclosed, especially in Mexico.
The Guatemalan authorities requested his
extradition, but it was not practiced until
October, 2008, after the accused appeared
before the Mexican justice.
However, a local judge approved Portillo's
parole on a $150,000 bail at that time, but
the accusing side was opposed for
considering that he could escape once more. |
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