Guatemala, July 3, 2012. Under its mandate, the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) can act as a complementary prosecutor in criminal proceedings, and thus it is currently providing support to the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) in over 50 high-impact cases that are under investigation or before the courts. To date 12 convictions have been achieved.
There has also been the acquittal in the Portillo case (currently at the appeals stage) with the dissenting opinion of Judge Morelia Ríos Arana, who found sufficient evidence against the three accused parties to the proceeding to convict them.
As a complementary prosecutor, in accordance with the laws of Guatemala, CICIG can carry out criminal prosecutions or join prosecutions begun by the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) in cases related to crimes allegedly committed by members of criminal structures that fall under the Commission's mandate. This makes it possible for CICIG to cooperate with the MP in such cases; support the fact-finding process; request the performance and approval of investigative actions (pursuant to Guatemalan law); and participate directly in criminal trials.
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