FIVE PERSONS CHARGED WITH CORRUPTION AT LA ANTIGUA TOWN HALL
Three remanded in custody

Guatemala, February 7, 2014. Judge Miguel Ángel Gálvez of High-Risk Court B ruled to prosecute five individuals, including councillors of La Antigua and next of kin of former Mayor Adolfo Vivar Marroquín, on charges of being involved in corrupt acts committed at the town hall. Mayor Vivar Marroquín is currently remanded in custody in relation to the same facts. Initial appearances were held on February 4 and 5.

The judge believed there to be sufficient evidence of the involvement of the accused individuals in the facts and ruled to remand three of them in custody. The other two accused were granted alternative measures.

Sent to prison:

1. Sandra Leticia Amado Molina de Vivar (wife of Mayor Vivar Marroquín), on charges of criminal association, extortion and fraud.
2. Fernando Julián Ernesto Bolaños Ochoa (son-in-law of Vivar Marroquín and buyer at the purchasing department of La Antigua), on charges of criminal association and extortion.
3. Edgar Enrique Monterroso Chan (councillor of the town hall of La Antigua), on charges of criminal association, bribery, embezzlement and extortion.

Alternative measures:

4. Aura Julia Molina Rogero (mother of Sandra Leticia Amado Molina), on charges of extortion and fraud.
5. Carlos Américo López Gutiérrez (councillor councillor of the town hall of La Antigua), on charges of criminal association, bribery, embezzlement and extortion.

Judge Gálvez granted the pair the following alternative measures: house arrest, ban on leaving the country and the obligation to sign an attendance record at the Public Prosecutor's Office (MP).

Background
In October 2013, by means of summary proceedings, five individuals were sentenced to three years in prison for extortion and two years for fraud.

On October 9, 2013, High-Risk Court B ordered the prosecution of six individuals, including former and current town hall employees of La Antigua. Two of the 24 individuals accused under this case are still fugitive.

Mayor Adolfo Vivar Marroquín, and the other accused, allegedly created a structure to misappropriate town hall 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.