Central America

Guatemala appoints controversial new anti-corruption prosecutor

AFP

The Guatemalan attorney general on Tuesday appointed a new anti-corruption investigator in a controversial move that comes after the United States said it had “lost confidence” in the top prosecutor.

The United States had levied the criticism after Attorney General Consuelo Porras sacked the previous anti-corruption investigator, Juan Francisco Sandoval.

The newly appointed Rafael Curruchiche, who headed a unit investigating electoral crimes but was accused of prosecuting the political opposition and protecting the corrupt, will take over from Sandoval, Porras said.

“The Attorney General … reiterates her commitment to ensuring the continuity of the fight against impunity and corruption,” her office said in a statement.

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But opposition MP Samuel Perez said Curruchiche was “known for his persecution of the opposition and his defense of the model of corruption.”

The Guatemalan media has reported on cases in which Curruchiche is suspected of having protecting people accused of electoral crimes, including businessmen suspected of illegally financing the party of former president Jimmy Morales.

Sandoval was fired last month and fled the country, citing fears for his life. He is now in the United States.

He was given an award earlier this year by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken for his anti-corruption work.

US President Joe Biden’s administration said his dismissal demonstrated a lack of “good faith” on the part of Porras, and as a result, “we have lost confidence in the attorney general.”

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Sandoval claimed he had encountered numerous obstacles in his work and had been prevented from investigating President Alejandro Giammattei without Porras’s permission.

Guatemalans have organized several demonstrations against Sandoval’s dismissal, last week erecting roadblocks and demanding the dismissal of the president and attorney general.

Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.