Arrest and Extradition Process

Jorge Gaitán, implicated in the Pepertree scandal and the fraud against Continental Towers, was recently arrested and is currently under preventive detention while his extradition to El Salvador is being determined. He faces charges of fraudulent administration in that country.

During his hearing, Gaitán attempted to obtain house arrest, arguing that his diabetes prevents him from remaining in prison. However, the court ruled that the risk of flight is high, and detention must be maintained until a decision on his extradition is reached.

Financial Fraud Under Investigation

Gaitán served as executive director until May 2016, when he became operations director. Between 2016 and 2020, he allegedly coordinated the issuance of checks in his favor and for his team, amounting to $53,000 under the pretext of “administrative travel expenses” and “commissions,” justifying these payments through emails.

Additionally, an extra $393,000 in international travel expenses between 2016 and 2021 is under investigation, some of which took place during the pandemic, when the company significantly reduced its operations. These trips included destinations with no commercial ties to the company, suggesting financial irregularities.

Furthermore, the Republic of El Salvador has identified irregularities in the finances of Tierras Nacionales LTDA, uncovered by manager Carlos Guzmán López, who took over in December 2021. After reviewing the company’s accounts, he requested authorization from Guatemalan authorities to conduct a forensic audit for the period between 2016 and 2020 in the companies of the Terra Towers group to determine possible cases of embezzlement.

Diabetes Is Not a Justification to Avoid Prison

Medically, diabetes is not a disabling condition that prevents serving a sentence in a correctional facility. It can be properly managed within a prison without endangering the inmate’s health.

• Prisons provide adequate medical services for chronic illnesses.
• Protocols exist to ensure access to insulin, glucose monitoring, and special diets.
• It is not a condition that prevents incarceration or poses an immediate life-threatening risk.

Ensuring Justice Without Unjustified Privileges

Granting house arrest to Jorge Gaitán would set a dangerous precedent, allowing other defendants with chronic illnesses to use their condition to evade justice. His preventive detention is a necessary measure to guarantee due process and ensure that he answers for the charges of fraudulent administration and financial fraud before the appropriate authorities.