Page 13 - MIN JUS 6 OCT 2015
P. 13
WORLD NEWS A11
Tuesday 6 October 2015
Accused leader of Guatemala corruption ring turns himself in
S. PEREZ D. later Monzon Rojas himself Juan Carlos Monzon Rojas, left, the personal secretary of former Vice President Roxana Baldetti,
A. MONTENEGRO addressed the court.
Associated Press He said any member of the listens to his lawyer Francisco Garcia Gudiel during a court hearing after he turned himself in to
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — governing Patriot Party’s
The alleged leader of a Cabinet “could affirm that authorities in Guatemala City, Monday, Oct. 5, 2015. (AP Photo/Luis Soto)
customs corruption scan- you didn’t do anything
dal that has rocked the without the knowledge stopped him. He said he safety and that the truth the court guaranteed his
Guatemalan government and approval of either was concerned about his would only be known if safety.q
told a judge Monday that of the two, Otto Perez or
former President Otto Perez Roxana Baldetti.”
Molina and former Vice- Monzon Rojas is accused
President Roxana Baldetti by authorities of being the
actually drove the scheme. head of a corruption ring
One day after turning him- known as “La Linea,” in
self in following months on which businesses allegedly
the run, Juan Carlos Mon- paid kickbacks to govern-
zon Rojas, Baldetti’s former ment officials in exchange
personal secretary, told for lower import duties. It is
judge during his initial court believed that the scheme
appearance that he was bilked the government out
just following orders. of millions of dollars.
The International Com- Monzon Rojas faces charg-
mission Against Impunity es of customs fraud, bribery
in Guatemala confirmed and criminal organization.
that Monzon Rojas sur- Police raided two proper-
rendered Sunday night. A ties in the capital’s suburbs
Guatemala judge had set on Sept. 30, without find-
his initial hearing for early ing Monzon Rojas. He said
Monday. The hearing be- Monday that he had tried
gan with the playing of in- to turn himself in earlier, but
tercepted phone calls and an attempt on his wife’s life
Puerto Rico:
Police seize $5.4M drug shipment
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Wednesday night.
— Authorities were search- A hotel security guard
ing this weekend for three alerted police around 10
suspects who allegedly at- p.m. Saturday about four
tempted to smuggle $5.4 people unloading pack-
million worth of drugs into ages from the boat in a
Puerto Rico from the Do- suspicious manner. Police
minican Republic. were interviewing the ar-
Police said they arrested rested man before turning
Teofilo Tineo Gonzalez, a him over to federal au-
36-year-old Dominican thorities.
man, after seizing about The superintendent said
518 pounds (235 kilograms) police this year have
of cocaine and heroin seized about 14,300
and a 22-foot (6.7-meter) pounds (6,500 kilograms)
boat on the coast west of of drugs, mostly cocaine,
San Juan, but three other more than what was
suspects got away. seized in 2013 and 2014
Police Superintendent combined.
Jose Caldero said authori- The U.S. Coast Guard is
ties were hunting for three also having a record year.
others they believe were Last month, it seized $41
aboard the boat that left million worth of cocaine
the Dominican Repub- and marijuana during Ca-
lic for the U.S. territory on ribbean interventions.q
