The case Odebrecht in Guatemala It has entered a new stage. Rafael CurruchicheChief of the Special Prosecutor against Impunity (FECI)confirmed arrest warrant Iván Velásquez Gómez, excommitted from the Cicig, and six more people.
The former head of the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) is indicated by the Public Ministry (MP) of “Head an alleged criminal network ”linked to illegal agreements with the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
Curruchiche did not expand details of who are the aforementioned people and against whom there is a arrest warrant, I only indicate that there are six arrest warrants.
Since when does the MP investigate Iván Velásquez in Guatemala?
Legal actions against Iván Velásquez They formally started in January 2023when Curruchiche announced that the ex -commissioner of the CICIG was investigated for their participation in the Effective collaboration agreements signed with representatives of Odebrecht during their management.
“Mr. Iván Velásquez Gómez, together with Juan Francisco Sandoval, allowed illegal agreements to be signed on behalf of the Guatemalan State without following the procedures established by law,” declared Curruchiche at that time.
Since then, the MP has stated that both Velásquez and Sandoval would have acted “with knowledge that the agreements were vitiated, favoring certain actors in exchange for judicial benefits and without persecuting the main responsible for the embezzlement.”
In a video posted by the MP in May 2025, prosecutor Curruchiche said: “The creation and use of cardboard companies was discovered to channel funds used by the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht with the aim of bribing Guatemalan officials.”
And he added: “Iván Velásquez and Juan Francisco Sandoval led a criminal structure that allowed one of the largest corruption cases in the history of Guatemala.”
He also explained that the effective collaboration agreements signed between 2017 and 2018 would have been illegal, so they were canceled by the Second Appeals Room In 2022.
Direct accusations
“Mr. Iván Velásquez Gómez intervenes directly,” Curruchiche said during an interview with Bluradio Colombia, in which he indicated that Velásquez could have incurred the crimes of illicit association, obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
The Guatemalan prosecutor explained that the investigation revealed, through emails and statements of collaborating witnesses, which existed a criminal structure within the MP and that the ex -commissioner would have had knowledge and intervention in the illegal agreements signed with executives of the Brazilian construction company Odebrecht.
“We have solid, forceful indications, which make us anticipate and establish that Mr. Iván Velásquez Gómez has responsibility in the criminal acts that we are investigating here in Guatemala,” said Curruchiche.
Did you receive money? No, but I had knowledge, according to the MP
In 2023, in an interview by a Colombian media, they asked Curruchiche If Velásquez received bribes or money directly from Odebrechtto which the Chief of the FECI replied that so far no payment has been established.
However, the Chief of the FECI said that Velasquez “had knowledge of all this negotiation, of the amounts that were going to pay the state of Guatemala and the benefits to the Odebrecht company and the Brazilian collaborators.”
The prosecutor also questioned the participation of Luz Adriana Camargo on a trip to Brazil, ensuring that “had no competence” to sign any agreement, since that work was only appropriate to the Guatemalan Public Ministry.
Why were the agreements with Odebrecht annulled?
According to the MP, the agreements presented irregularities such as:
- He legal power of Odebrecht It was not valid in Guatemala.
- Juan Francisco Sandoval He acted as a prosecutor in Brazil without legal authorization.
- The judge did not properly base the approval.
- The documents contained Ideological falsehood.
- The defense lawyer had no authorization to exercise in Brazil.
“The signatures of the agreements, the prosecutors who authorized them and the defense lawyer will be criminally investigated,” Curruchiche indicated.
Oldebrecht case capture orders in Guatemala
Since 2018, the Public Ministry (MP) has turned multiple apprehension orders Against key actors in the Odebrecht case, one of the most important corruption investigations in the country.
Next, the names and positions of the people required by justice are detailed:
Previous Orders (2018-2022):
- Alejandro Sinibaldi
Former Minister of Communications. Accused of receiving bribes for more than US $ 19.7 million. Captured in 2020. Closed research in 2023, without facing trial.
- Manuel Baldizón
Forcenteble. Accused of receiving US $ 3 million. Captured and deported to Guatemala in 2022. He was free in 2024.
- Carlos Arturo Batres Gil
Guatemalan businessman, alleged intermediary in the bribes.
- Odebrecht representatives
They signed collaboration agreements indicated after being illegal in Guatemala.
Capture orders issued in 2023:
- 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
Ex -General General of the MP.
- Mayra Johana Véliz López
Former Secretary General of the MP.
- Luis David Gaitán Arana
Exmandatary of the Cicig.
May capture and summons orders on 2025:
- Iván Velásquez Gómez, capture order
Exomised from the CICIG. Indicated as the assumption leader of a criminal structure that endorsed illegal agreements.
- Juan Francisco Sandoval, arrest warrant
Expofe of the FECI. Accused of abuse of authority, usurpation of functions and cover -up.
- Florencio Damacio Reyes (aforementioned)
- Arturo Abimael Herrera (aforementioned)
- Haroldo Uriel Martínez (aforementioned)
- Gustavo Enrique Hernández Gil (aforementioned)
All indicated by the crimes of Illicit Association and conspiracy for money laundering.
In addition, the MP reported on the Roberto “N” captureaccused of Illicit Association and Ideological falsehood. The Detention Control Hearing It was carried out in the same court, and the judge determined to send it to provisional prison in the prison of Mariscal Zavalawaiting for your audience of First statement scheduled for Friday May 16.
Juan Francisco Sandoval’s response
From exile, on May 12, 2025, Juan Francisco Sandovalformer chief of the FECI, reacted to the announcement in his X account:
“Today I denounce a new attempt of the MP for covering up those who received the Odebrecht bribes.”
And in a broader statement, he said: “It is not a new phase, it is a manipulation strategy. What announced by Rafael Curruchiche does not represent a real advance, but a maneuver to divert the attention of those who truly benefited from corruption.”
“Impute to subordinates without proceeding against the political and economic leaders of the Network is current bias proof,” he added
What is Odebrecht case?
He Odebrecht case It is one of the biggest corruption scandals in Latin America. It is an international investigation that revealed how the company NORBERTO ODEBRECHT SAone of the largest construction companies in Brazil, paid millionaires bribes to politicians, businessmen and public officials in at least 12 countries, in exchange for awards of infrastructure contracts.
In Guatemalathe case came to light in the 2018when the Public Ministry and the CICIG revealed that Alejandro Sinibaldiformer Minister of Communications during the Government of the Patriot Party, had received US $ 19.7 million in bribes of Odebrecht in exchange for freeing retained payments and facilitating the continuity of a road contract of more than US $ 384 million.