International News: Guatemala’s Former President and Vice sentenced for fraud, conspiracy

By Zoila Palma Gonzalez: On Wednesday, a court in Guatemala sentenced former President Otto Perez Molina and former Vice President Roxana Baldetti to 16 years in prison for fraud and conspiracy charges, Latin Post reports.

Both disgraced politicians were found guilty of illicit association (8 years) and customs fraud (8 years) but were acquitted of illegal enrichment charges. 

In addition, former President Perez was ordered to pay $1.10 million (8.7 million quetzales), while Baldetti was fined $1.06 million (8.4 million quetzales).

Perez Molina says that he feels cheated after the conviction.

“All that’s left is to appeal,” he said.

In 2015, both politicians resigned and have spent the last 7 years in prison awaiting a verdict on charges of permitting and benefiting from a customs graft scheme known as La Linea, or “The Line.”

They were both accused of leading the fraud network.

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