FIVE INDIVIDUALS CONVICTED OF CORRUPTION IN LA ANTIGUA GUATEMALA

Guatemala, October 16, 2013. First Court B for High-Risk Matters convicted five individuals for their involvement in corrupt acts in La Antigua Guatemala. Mayor Adolfo Vivar Marroquín is currently held in pre-trial detention in relation to the same facts.

By means of summary proceedings, Judge Miguel Ángel Gálvez sentenced the five accused individuals to three years in prison for extortion and two years for fraud. The convicted parties are:

1. Josué Renato de la Roca Sagastume
2. Adriana del Carmen Castillo Recinos
3. Aurelio Cuy Chávez
4. José Armando Arrecis Ramírez
5. Bladimir Alejandro Nájera Coba

The Judge also banned them from bidding on, tendering for or signing State contracts.

Investigations established that the five convicted individuals were representatives of different businesses with direct ties to Mayor Vivar Marroquín and, therefore, they benefitted in an irregular manner for the services they supplied.

Background
On October 9, 2013, First Court B for High-Risk Matters ordered the prosecution of six individuals, including former and current municipal employees, after finding evidence to suggest they had been involved in the case.

The Mayor of La Antigua Guatemala, Adolfo Vivar Marroquín, and the other accused allegedly created a structure to divert municipal funds using companies they had created. Some of these companies were construction companies that were awarded over-priced projects. An alternative method used to take the town's funds involved paying its alleged employees and paying for services that were never rendered.