LA ANTIGUA MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES PROSECUTED

Guatemala, October 9, 2013. First Court B for High-Risk Matters ordered yesterday that six individuals—including current and former municipal employees of La Antigua Guatemala—be prosecuted after determining there was evidence of their alleged participation in corrupt acts. Mayor Adolfo Vivar Marroquín was also involved in these acts and he is being held in custody on related charges.

Accused parties:

1. Guisela Eugenia Monroy Castillo (employee of the municipal pharmacy) is charged with criminal association, extortion and embezzlement. She has been suspended from her municipal duties. (She handed herself over voluntarily.)
2. Cesar Augusto Sarazúa Marroquín (head of municipal procurement) is charged with criminal association, extortion and use of false documentation. He has been suspended from his municipal duties.
3. Carlos Joél Mendoza Pérez (project manager for municipal planning) is charged with criminal association and fraud. He has been suspended from his municipal duties.
4. Josué Joél García Resendiz (former councillor) is charged with criminal association, extortion, embezzlement and bribery.
5. Sergio Estuardo Cruz Cortés (head of municipal planning) is charged with criminal association and fraud. He has been suspended from his municipal duties.
6. José Cristóbal Tazen Ortíz (former councillor) is charged with criminal association, extortion and embezzlement.

All of these individuals, with the exception of Monroy Castillo, were arrested by the authorities, with CICIG support, in different areas of La Antigua on October 2, 2013.

Contempt of court
In this same case, on October 7, 2013, Judge Gálvez declared Sandra Leticia Amado Molina (wife of Mayor Adolfo Vivar Marroquín), Carlos Americio López Gutiérrez, Carlos Roberto Mérida Reynoso, Edgar Enrique Monterroso Chan, José Antonio Palomo Cajas and Fernando Ernesto Julián Bolaños Ochoa to be in contempt of court. The individuals were declared in contempt of court because they had evaded justice authorities despite knowing they were subject to an arrest warrant.

CICIG acts as a complementary prosecutor in these criminal proceedings.