Guatemalan Businessman Faces Extradition Process

Guatemalan businessman Jorge Leonel Gaitán Paredes, accused of defrauding more than one million dollars from companies in El Salvador, has been sent to preventive detention following his second hearing. The Third Criminal Sentencing Court issued this measure while his extradition process is formalized.

Arrest and Charges

Gaitán Paredes was arrested earlier this week in Guatemala following a warrant issued by the Attorney General’s Office of El Salvador. His son, Jorge Alberto Gaitán Castro, also implicated in the case, later decided to surrender to authorities.

The accusations indicate that both defrauded more than $1.2 million through a scheme of false per diems and commissions, using the company Tierra Towers S.A., which is dedicated to the construction and maintenance of telecommunications infrastructure.

Fraud Scheme and Extradition

According to the Salvadoran Prosecutor’s Office, between 2016 and 2020, the accused issued checks in their own names, making them appear as legitimate payments for commissions and expenses. Along with the Gaitáns, five other individuals face charges of fraudulent administration and fund misappropriation to the detriment of the companies Tierras Nacionales LTDA de C.V. and Maintenance and Service S.A.

The Guatemalan court has given Salvadoran authorities one month to formally submit the extradition request through diplomatic channels. Meanwhile, Gaitán Paredes will remain in preventive detention as a precautionary measure.

Expectations for Case Development

The case has generated significant interest in Guatemala and El Salvador, as it involves businessmen with alleged connections in both countries. The resolution of the judicial process and the potential extradition of the accused could set a precedent in the fight against corruption and financial fraud in the region.