CHAMBER UPHOLDS JUDGMENT AGAINST POLICE FOR GASOLINE SMUGGLING

Guatemala, May 29, 2013. Today, a chamber of the Court of Criminal Appeals for High-Risk Matters upheld the decision to convict 9 members of the National Civil Police (PNC) to 18 years in prison, including police chiefs, inspectors and officers, all of whom are accused of smuggling gasoline since 2008.

The chamber's decision, which was notified to CICIG today, addresses the appeal filed by the defense counsel against the ruling of Court A of the First Instance for High-Risk Matters. On January 17, 2013, Court A convicted PNC officials to 8 years in prison for criminal association and 10 years in prison for customs contraband.

The chamber upheld the convictions of the following:

1. José Alfonso Cruz Valdéz, Police Chief;
2. Erick Noé Palacios López, Police Chief;
3. Freddy Fernando López Trabanino, Police Chief;
4. Luis Francisco González Estrada, Deputy Chief;
5. Lile Castañeda Sandoval, Inspector;
6. Juan Zacarías Zacarías, Police Corporal III;
7. Lorenzo Hurtado Corado, Police Corporal III;
8. José Angel Véliz Valdéz, Police Corporal II;
9. Amílcar René Franco Cabrera, police officer.

Eleven additional individuals are to face trial in the same case, including businessmen and former officials of the Superintendence of Tax Administration (SAT)—all of whom formed part of the criminal organization.

Background
The convicted persons—members of a criminal structure—facilitated the passage of fuel that entered the country illegally at the Pedro de Alvarado customs checkpoint, arriving from El Salvador en route to Guatemala City, where it would be sold.

CICIG acts as a complementary prosecutor in this criminal proceeding.