COMMISSION REITERATES COMPLAINT AGAINST JUDGE

Guatemala, July 31, 2013. Before the First Chamber of Criminal Appeals, the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) ratified the complaint filed against Judge Jisela Reinoso Trujillo, who is charged with malfeasance of office.

The matter is being overseen by investigating judge Jorge Mario Valenzuela, who will decide if it is necessary to recommend that the Supreme Court of Justice (SCJ) strip Judge Reinoso of her immunity. A CICIG representative gave details to Judge Valenzuela of the rulings whereby Judge Reinoso sought to benefit accused individuals in the following criminal proceedings:

1. Case No. 1077-2011-193: Ana Sofía Castañeda Deras (known as "La Sirenita") and Luis Arturo Méndez Martínez are being investigated by the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) for their alleged involvement in a money laundering and drug trafficking network. The judge changed the pre-trial detention measure for house arrest. The pair are charged with unlawful association and conspiracy to interfere with the course of justice.
2. Case No. 01069–2011–00695: On December 22, 2011, the judge declared the provisional closure of proceedings against José Manuel Cifuentes. The accused was arrested at La Aurora International Airport on July 14, 2011. Cifuentes was found to be carrying USD 472,360.00 and was headed to Panama City; however, he failed to declare the funds, as required by law. He was charged with money laundering, perjury and falsification of facts.
3. Case No. 01069–2012–00027: On January 16, 2012, José Miguel Espinoza López, Cándido Heberto Cano Camacho, Javier Orta Rodríguez (Mexican), Henry Roberto Camacho, Jesús Arturo León Álvarez (Mexican), Carlos Manuel Gamboa Godínez and Owen Ariel Maldonado Muñoz were arrested in Zone 10 of Guatemala City carrying a total of USD 500,090.00. The above individuals benefited from a change in the charges of money laundering and conspiracy to a charge of impeding clarification of events. They were also allowed to go free after paying a bail bond of GTQ 5,000.

CICIG has filed 15 complaints against judges before the Supreme Court of Justice.