ARREST OF INDIVIDUAL IMPLICATED IN ILLEGAL ADOPTION

Guatemala, June 9, 2011. The authorities arrested Wilian Antonio López Sandoval today at 6.00 in the morning. The arrest was made in the municipality of Mixco. López Sandoval is charged with being involved in kidnapping a minor on May 12, 2007. Rosalinda Rivera Estrada is also charged with this kidnapping.

The arrest warrant was issued by the Eighth Court of the First Criminal Instance in relation to charges of human trafficking and criminal association. The investigations of the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) established that López Sandoval formed part of an adoption ring, of which Rivera Estrada—who is charged with human trafficking and conspiracy—was also a member.

The MP accuses López Sandoval of taking the minor Gerson David Hernández Canté from the arms of his mother when she was leaving Roosevelt Hospital on the aforementioned date. He was accompanied by Rivera Estrada, according to the statement the mother made to authorities. Furthermore, an investigation established that the accused had signed illegal adoption papers.

The accused was transported to the Court for his initial appearance. The pre-trial hearing to open oral arguments of Rivera Estrada and three other individuals facing the same charges is scheduled to be held at 9.00 a.m. tomorrow.

Officers of the National Civil Police (PNC), prosecutors of the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP) and investigators of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), a complementary prosecutor in these criminal proceedings, were all involved in arresting López Sandoval.

The boy is currently in the United States, following his illegal adoption by a US family.