Rafael Curruchiche, head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity (FECI), this Thursday, April 3 in statements to the press referred to the sanctions imposed by the United Kingdom.
On Wednesday, April 2, the United Kingdom announced sanctions to “Antidemocratic and corrupt actors from three countries, including Guatemala.”
“I cannot believe that foreign governments fall into the ignorance of information that comes from Guatemala, I am included when I do not know Europe, I have no assets in the United Kingdom,” said the prosecutor.
He added: “The truth that for me is absurd, is insignificant, but more struck me that this more seems like a smoke curtain of the current government to divert attention to very important issues.”
“I thought that European officials were smarter, than getting carried away by totally false, totally wrong narratives,” he said.
Curruchiche indicated that on April 2 he received the communication of a Guatemala ambassador to Europe and this person is “very aware of these situations that come, which occurred yesterday and others that come”.
“This ambassador told me that it is currently from Guatemala in Europe that now the diplomatic narrative will be used to try to limit the work done by the Public Ministry,” he added.
“What they don’t want is to be investigated, it is a smoke curtain,” he said without specifying details.
In the sanctions, the United Kingdom explained that this is part of a broader package of “against corrupt individuals” in Guatemala.
People affected by the sanctions will be subject to prohibitions of travel and freezing of assets, which will deny the entrance to the United Kingdom and prevent them from maintaining funds or economic resources in the United Kingdom and their overseas territories, according to the shared information.
In addition to Curruchiche, the Attorney General, Consuelo Porras; Ángel Pineda, general secretary of the Public Ministry, and Cinthia Monterroso, prosecutor and head of unity of the FECI.
The former president Alejandro Giammattei, Miguel Martínez, associate of the ex -president and former head of the Government Center, and Melvin Quijivix, former director of the National Electrification Institute.