FIVE TO FACE JUSTICE FOR FUEL SMUGGLING

Guatemala, March 8, 2013. Today, Court B of the First Criminal Instance for High-risk Matters ruled to send five accused parties to trial for allegedly being involved in fuel smuggling since 2008 (Gasofa case). Among the accused are former officials of the National Civil Police (PNC) and the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT).

At the pre-trial hearing to open oral arguments, Judge Miguel Ángel Gálvez found sufficient evidence to order the accused to stand trial on the following charges:

1. Cruz Felipe Lorenzo (Chief of Police Precinct 13 prior to detention): criminal association, blocking justice and customs fraud.
2. Jorge Alberto Coc Tepaz (police officer prior to detention): criminal association, blocking justice and customs fraud.
3. Erick Estuardo Lucas Díaz (Deputy Inspector prior to detention): criminal association, blocking justice and customs fraud.
4. Daniel Ac Cuquej (Deputy Inspector prior to detention): criminal association, blocking justice and customs fraud.
5. Willian Estuardo Lemus Ramírez (Former SAT official): criminal association and customs fraud.

The International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) and the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) filed 84 pieces of evidence supporting the accusation, including witness statements, documentary evidence and wiretaps. The MP used the evidence to demonstrate the coordination between the accused to carry out the smuggling of fuel and the blocking of investigations.

At the proceedings, Judge Gálvez granted CICIG, the Attorney General of the Nation's Office (PGN) and the SAT definitive participation in the case as complementary prosecutors. The hearing to submit evidence was scheduled for March 14.

Background
The accused persons allegedly operated under the facade of the company Corporación Internacional de Petróleo (COINPESA) and facilitated the passage of fuel that entered the country illegally at the Pedro de Alvarado customs checkpoint. The fuel was transported from El Salvador to Guatemala City, where it would be sold. Willian Estuardo Lemus Ramírez coordinated with his former SAT colleagues to ensure the illegal passage of the fuel tankers across the border at the Pedro de Alvarado checkpoint. In addition, the police officers secured the route of the tankers to prevent them from being detected by the authorities not involved in the organization.

The structure was also comprised of businesspersons, individuals, former and active police officers as well as former and current SAT officials, who illegally brought the fuel into Guatemala between 2008 and 2012.