Rafael Curruchiche, head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity (FECI), said there is a complaint that directly indicates to the President of the Republic, Bernardo Arévalo, and his brother, Martín Arévalo, of having delivered to Chinese companies the control of the country’s ports.
He added that the proceedings are carried out in the land where the transaction was possibly made.
Of that account, three ocular inspections are made in different parts of Puerto Quetzal, which are presumed to belong to the Military Security Institute and the Quetzal port, Curruchiche said.
The Secretariat of Social Communication of the Presidency said that the accusations of the FECI are spurious and that the raids are carried out weeks that the government and the United States sign a letter of understanding to improve and expand the port company Quetzal (EPQ).
“The signs are spurious, which scratch in the absurd and ridiculous, to weeks that the government of Guatemala firm with the United States marine a letter of understanding to improve and expand EPQ,” said the secretariat.
Other cases against the president of Guatemala
This is not the first research process against Arévalo. On August 21, 2024, Curruchiche announced in a press conference possible acts of corruption in the Ministry of Communications, Infrastructure and Housing (MICIVI).
Curruchiche began the conference referring to the President of the Republic, Bernardo Arévalo, whom he pointed out of being the “main responsible for promoting impunity.”
According to the prosecutor, Arévalo would have issued an illegal order by creating an arbitrary payment mechanism, outside the framework of his functions and powers established in the Constitution.
He indicated that Arévalo authorized illegally, with his signature, payments to state contractors, in favor of “contractors hired by the Micivi.”
Curruchiche said, then, that the withdrawal of the law of prejudice against Arévalo was requested for the crimes of abuse of authority, resolutions violations of the constitution and usurpation of powers, having given illegal instructions.
He commented that the FECI only filed the action against President Arévalo and not against other officials or former officials, because the investigation responds to a complaint filed.