The case “Municipality of Chinautla, a family business”, which involves relatives and relatives of the former mayor of Chinautla, Arnoldo Medrano –prisoner sentenced for various corruption acts during their management– He took a new turn that could benefit all those involved, mainly to his son, former deputy Gustavo Arnoldo Medrano Osorio, who is a fugitive.
Thanks to a challenge filed by the lawyers of Medrano Osorio against the Judge of greatest risk C, Silvia de León, the case was transferred to the Court of greatest risk B, in charge of Judge Abelina Cruz, who has been in the public eye for resolutions that have favored former officials syndicated in different cases of corruption.
The challenge against Judge Silvia de León was presented by the defense of Medrano days before he was removed as head of the Court of greatest risk C, last May. So far it is unknown which Appeals Room admitted the action and authorized that the case be known by the Court of greatest risk B.
Money laundering and illicit association
The son of the former mayor of Chinautla is accused of the crimes of money laundering and illicit association in the “Municipality of Chinautla, a family business”, revealed by the extinct International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) in 2017.
According to the investigation of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity (FECI), Gustavo Medrano Osorio was part of the structure led by his father, made up of members of the Council, including several relatives of the former mayor’s wife. This structure operated in the commune of Chinautla from 2008 to 2012, a period in which several projects and services would have been anomalized to different companies, through which they appropriated more than Q100 million.
The Cicig promoted these investigations against Arnoldo Medranohis son Gustavo and other relatives and acquaintances, of whom most have already been sentenced.
As for Gustavo Medrano, his capture was not possible at the time, since he enjoyed immunity as a deputy of Congress. At the end of his period in 2020, the rights of prejudice was withdrawn and he was expected to voluntarily appear before the courts. However, he fled and his whereabouts is still unknown. Only their lawyers have promoted legal actions within the case.
Controversial resolutions
Judge Abelina Cruz, current holder of the Court of greatest risk B, has issued controversial resolutions that benefited former officials from different governments. Among them, there is the case of former Minister of Communications during the administration of Jimmy Morales, José Luis Benitowho benefited in February 2024 with an abbreviated procedure after declaring money laundering. He was imposed a sentence of six years in prison and a fine of Q1 million 600 thousand.
Cruz also ordered the dismissal of crimes such as money laundering, illicit association, passive bribery, evasion and tax fraud in favor of Gustavo Alejosformer Secretary of the Presidency during the government of Álvaro Colom, and pharmaceutical businessman, syndicated within the case “Network of power, corruption and money laundering.”
He also decided to release Alejandro Sinibaldiformer Minister of Communications of the Government of Otto Pérez Molina, who faced charges for unregistered electoral financing, money laundering and leading a structure of illegal charges and payments. The judge argued that the accusation was inaccurate, including 2015, when Sinibaldi no longer exercised as a minister.
In addition, he closed the process against the former deputy Galdámez estuardo, involved in the case “Assault on the Ministry of Health”, where he was accused of receiving bribes for Q2 million in exchange for benefiting acquaintances with construction contracts of the Quiché Hospital.
All these resolutions were issued by Judge Abelina Cruz when he was in charge of the Court of greatest risk D.
Related readings
Related readings
Related readings
Related readings
Related readings
