The National Civil Police (PNC) ensures that investigations for the theft of a vice presidency microbus advance positively and indicates that the alleged perpetrators have already been outlined.
According to the PNC, the alleged responsible for having stolen a vehicle from the Vice Presidency of the Republic that was parked in the parking lot of the Ministry of Administrative Affairs and Security of the Presidency (SAAS) have already been profiled.
Edis Fabián, deputy director of Criminal Investigation of the PNC, reported that together with the Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime of the Public Ministry (MP) they have advanced in the investigations of the case. However, it did not delve into details, since the MP must coordinate judicial actions, and reveal information would be counterproductive for the investigations.
He affirmed: From the fact that we have knowledge of the complaint, we begin with the investigation diligence, such as making the possible suspects, making verification of cameras and conducting interviews. We started with all that work that led to us to have very important advances within the investigation, and the reports in relation to this case are already delivered to the Public Ministry.
He added that he cannot reveal further details, because the MP must coordinate raids and arrest warrants, if applicable.
In this case, on Tuesday, April 29, Deputy José Chic cited officials of the SAAS and the PNC.
The parliamentarian described as worrying that the theft has been committed in the parking lot of SAAS, which makes it doubt the effectiveness of the security protocols of the institution that is responsible for the security of the president, the vice president of the Republic and the State Ministers.
“What worries me is that this is the fact that we know right now, but we don’t know if other similar cases have passed,” Chic said.
Details
A vehicle assigned to the Vice Presidency of the Republic of Guatemala was stolen from the parking of the SAAS, located in front of the presidential house. The investigations have revealed that a government employee would have cooperated with an alleged member of a criminal structure to commit the fact.
On January 3, 2025, at 4:49 p.m., he entered the PNC police station 11 The SAAS.
Complaint number 03-2025 was filed by Enrique Cojoc Calel, hired in the private secretariat of the Vice Presidency as Professional III. According to his statement to the PNC, on December 23, 2024, at about 4.25, he withdrew the microbus from the parking lot to cover a work commission in the Sacatepéquez department and that same day he returned it.
However, on January 3, 2025, Brandon Lisandro Catalán Lara, hired in the Department of Transportation, wanted to get the vehicle out of the parking lot, but noticed that he was not in the place, so he immediately called Enrique Cojoc Calel, details the complaint.
The workers of the Vice Presidency consulted the SAAS security personnel for the missing minibus. The troops indicated that, on December 28, 2024, at 5:45 p.m., a man withdrew the parking lot, but, according to the complaint, he is not a state worker.
The investigators said they identified the suspect, who is allegedly involved in a criminal structure dedicated to vehicle theft in the department of Guatemala. The alleged offender was captured two months later.
The arrest warrant was issued on February 27, 2025 by Neldy Vanessa Rodríguez Andrade, Fifth Pluripersonal Judge of the First Criminal Instance of Guatemala. The next day, Isaiah of Jesús Pérez Salazar, 30, was captured in sector 1 of the La Selvita settlement, zone 6 capital.
They detailed that Pérez Salazar is the alleged responsible for having participated in the theft of the vice presidency vehicle, in addition to being involved in other similar cases.
The researchers said that Pérez Salazar arrived at the parking lot of SAAS dressed in a shirt with government badges and went to the place where the keys of the vehicles were. He turned on the panel with official O-066BBX plates and left the parking lot. There was no control when the subject entered or when he left with the vehicle, the researchers said.
They indicated that the thief allegedly received help from a government employee, who provided him with garments with official badges, gave indications on how to enter the parking lot and informed him where the vehicle keys were.
With information from Rubén Lacán and Leslie Sánchez