Guatemala high court revives process that could strip president’s immunity from prosecution

July 2, 2015 News Room

GUATEMALA CITY (AP) _ Guatemala’s constitutional court on Wednesday revived a process that could strip President Otto Perez Molina of immunity from prosecution amid growing corruption scandals.

Court President Gloria Porras said the appeal by the president was denied as well as a second one on Tuesday. The ruling allows a congressional committee formed to study the issue to continue its work, the first step in a process that could lead to impeachment.

The Central American country has been embroiled in two major scandals, with protesters regularly filling the streets of the capital calling for Perez Molina’s resignation.

He has not been implicated and says he did nothing wrong.

But his vice-president, Roxana Baldetti, was forced to resign over a customs scandal involving kickbacks for lower import duties. The corruption ring was allegedly headed by her private secretary.

In a second scandal, officials purportedly awarded a $15 million contract for kidney treatments to a company lacking a license to perform the services.