The Brazilian construction company scandal Odebrecht marked a before and after in the fight against corruption In Guatemala, when the alleged payment of millionaire bribes to officials were revealed in December 2016 to ensure infrastructure contracts.
At that time, the Special Prosecutor against Impunity (FECI) and the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) He involved high -fun government officials between 2012 and 2015.
Next, the origin of the case is described, how the investigation was developed and why the Public Ministry (MP) requested these capture orders.
Origin of the Odebrecht case
On December 21, 2016, the United States Department of Justice made public that the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht He had paid a total of US $ 788 million in bribes to officials from 12 Latin American countries to ensure public works contracts.
In Guatemala, the investigation established that between 2013 and 2015 the company allegedly delivered around US $ 18 million in bribes to senior officials, in exchange for the award and execution of road projects.
According to the Comptroller General of Accountsa special audit exam detected indications of possible illicit in the contract granted to Constructora Norberto Odebrecht, SA for the four-lane expansion of the CA-2 West route (section cocales -coatepeque). This audit resulted in a formalized complaint before the Special Prosecutor against Impunity (FECI)registered under file No. M001/2016/64326.
Research development in Guatemala
In 2012, Alejandro Sinibaldi He assumed as Minister of Communications. At the end of that year, he awarded and signed the contract with Odebrecht for the expansion of the CA-2 West (Cocales-Coatepeque section). According to the CICIGin December 2013 Sinibaldi held the first meeting with representatives of Odebrecht in Guatemala to agree on the terms of bribes.
Illicit disbursements (2013–2015)
During 2013 and 2015, the investigation revealed that Odebrecht would have made illicit payments through bank accounts, benefiting Alejandro Sinibaldi, Manuel Baldizón and Carlos Arturo Batres Gil.
- Alejandro Sinibaldiformer Minister of Communications, would have received around US $ 19.7 million In bribes.
- Manuel Baldizónpresidential, would have received near US $ 3 millionalthough the Cicig points out that it only obtained 50% of that figure.
- Carlos Arturo Batres Gilentrepreneur and intermediary, he received approximately Q4.9 million.
Effective Collaboration Agreement
In 2017, Odebrecht agreed with the MP and the Cicig the payment of US $ 17.9 million As reparation in favor of the Guatemalan State, the same amount used in bribes.
In addition, the company promised to return the materials acquired for the work and to offer a public apology.
This agreement was signed in Brazil by Juan Francisco Sandoval without counting on the intervention of the Attorney General’s Office.
First defendants and arrest warrants (2018–2022)
Since 2018, under the direction of the Former General Telma Aldana and the Expire of the FECI, Juan Francisco Sandovalthe Public Ministry issued several arrest warrants against the main ones involved in the bribes network:
- Alejandro Sinibaldi
Former Minister of Communications, accused of receiving more than US $ 19.7 million In bribes. He remained a fugitive between 2016 and 2020, the year he was voluntarily delivered. In 2023, the investigation against him was closed without reaching trial, and in 2024 the judge Abelina Cruz He accepted him as a complainant against the former prosecutor Juan Francisco Sandoval. - Manuel Baldizón
Forcentence accused of receiving US $ 3 million In bribes. He was captured and deported to Guatemala in 2022. In 2024, Judge Abelina Cruz exempt him from responsibility and accepted him as a complainant against Sandoval. - Carlos Arturo Batres Gil. Alleged intermediary entrepreneur in the bribes network. The FECI determined that Batres Gil received Q 4.9 million. In 2022, the exjude Erika Aifán He sent it to trial; However, in 2024 Judge Abelina Cruz annulled the process, returning the case to intermediate stage and reducing the bail of Q 5 million to Q 1 million, which allowed her release.
Capture orders issued in 2023
With the administration of the MP in charge of Consuelo Porras and the chief of the FECI, Rafael Curruchichenew orders were turned in 2023 against former officials who authorized collaboration agreements so that Odebrecht directives gave statements from Brazil in September 2017.
The crimes imputed were Obstruction of justice, conspiracy and abuse of authority. Among those indicated are:
- Juan Pablo Carrasco de Groote
Lawyer, former president of Amcham, legal ex -assistant of Odebrecht and honorary consul of a country of the European Union.
- Thelma Esperanza Aldana Hernández
Former general public of the Public Ministry.
- Mayra Johana Véliz López
Former Secretary General of the MP.
- Luis David Gaitán Arana
Exmandatary of the Cicig.
May 2025 capture and summons orders
On June 2, 2025, the Third Chamber of the Court of Appeals made the arrest warrant effective for:
- Iván Velásquez Gómez
Excommitted from the CICIG and currently Colombian ambassador to the Vatican, indicated as the alleged leader of the criminal structure that He authorized illegal agreements.
- Luz Adriana Camargo Garzón
Colombia’s Attorney General, accused of participating in the same criminal structure.
The Chief of the FECI, Rafael Curruchichereported that the Court also decreed the judicial rebellion and ordered the capture against:
- Telma Esperanza Aldana Hernándezformer general of the MP.
- Mayra Johana Véliz Lópezformer secretary general of the MP.
- Juan Francisco Sandovalformer chief of the FECI, accused of abuse of authority, Usurpation of functions and concealment.
Additionally, they turned Citations for a group of former officialsinvolved by Illicit Association and conspiracy for money laundering, Among them:
- Eva Xiomara Sosa Pérezcited by the same crimes related to the CICIG network.
- Florencio Damacio Reyes
- Haroldo Uriel Martínez and
- Gustavo Enrique Hernández Gil.
The MP also communicated the capture of Roberto “N”processed by Illicit Association and Ideological falsehood.
His detention control hearing was held in the corresponding Court, where the judge determined to send it to provisional prison in the Mariscal Zavala prison, waiting for her first statement hearing scheduled for May 16, 2025.
Reasons for arrest orders against Ivan Velázques and Luz Camargo
In a published video, the Chief of the FECI, Rafael Curruchiche, He explained that both Iván Velásquez Gómez and Luz Adriana Camargo Garzón would have participated in a criminal structure within the Public Ministry.
According to Curruchiche, both officials knew and allowed the signing of illegal agreements with executives of the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht, which motivated the request for arrest orders.
“Mr. Iván Velásquez Gómez intervenes directly,” said Curruchiche during an interview with Bluradio Colombia, noting that Velásquez could have incurred the crimes of Illicit Association, Obstruction of Justice and conspiracy.
The Guatemalan prosecutor added that, from emails and statements of collaborating witnesses, the existence of a criminal structure in the FECI was verified. According to the investigation, Velásquez and Camargo were aware of the pacts with Odebrecht and facilitated their execution without attachment to national regulations.
“We have solid and forceful indications that allow us to establish the responsibility of Iván Velásquez Gómez in the criminal acts that we are investigating in Guatemala,” Curruchiche concluded.
Implications and institutional reaction
In front of the recent capture ordersthe Institutional reactions They were immediate and varied, standing out among them:
About the Third Appeals Room
The room that authorized the capture orders is made up of the magistrates Alejandro Prado Estrada (president), Ingrid Vanessa García Vásquez (Vocal I) and Mario Federico Hernández (Vocal II).
This same instance has questioned previous decisions, such as the annulment of the journalist’s house arrest José Rubén Zamora in March 2025.
And the one that revoked a resolution that allowed magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Court to exercise functions despite being disabled by investigations (January 2025).
Political and diplomatic repercussions
He Guatemala Government He rejected, through a statement, the captures turned against Iván Velásquez and Luz Camargo, indicates that these measures lack legal support.
The Colombian president, Gustavo Petrohe considered the measure as a political persecution against officials who, in his opinion, fulfilled functions to combat corruption.
CICIG position and international organizations
Several human rights organizations have expressed concern, noting that these actions could represent a retaliation against those who participated in the anti -corruption struggle in Guatemala.
It is estimated that the credibility of international cooperation in corruption research will be affected if due process is not guaranteed.