COURT LINKS JUDGE PERALTA TO PROCEEDINGS

Guatemala, June 26, 2012. The Fourth Court of the First Criminal Instance linked Mario Fernando Peralta Castañeda to proceedings on charges of human trafficking, malfeasance, unlawful association and denial of justice. Peralta is a judge at the Escuintla Court of the First Instance for Children and Adolescents and he faces the aforementioned charges because of his alleged involvement in the illegal adoption of the child Angely Liseth Hernández Rodríguez.

Judge Jisela Reynoso issued Peralta the following alternative measures: house arrest, ban on leaving the country without authorization and the obligation to sign the court attendance record every 30 days. CICIG will appeal against the decision and argue that Peralta be sent to prison because of the existence of the danger of absconding and thwarting investigations in the case.

In the hearing, CICIG argued that Judge Peralta acted arbitrarily, negligently and dishonestly, because in his position as the ideal person to protect children, he acted in way that violated the provisions provided for in the Constitution of the Republic and international human rights agreements for children.

Background
In the hearing, CICIG argued that Judge Peralta acted arbitrarily, negligently and dishonestly, because in his position as the ideal person to protect children, he acted in a way that violated the provisions set forth in the Constitution of the Republic and international human rights agreements for children.

CICIG acts as a complementary prosecutor in this proceeding.