Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Friday 22 March 2019
Ex-President Michel Temer arrested in Brazil for corruption

By PETER PRENGAMAN Supreme Court to allow
MAURICIO SAVARESE some corruption cases in-
Associated Press volving campaign finance,
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — which figured heavily in the
Former Brazilian President probe, to be tried by elec-
Michel Temer was arrested toral courts.
on Thursday on corruption This week, Moro himself suf-
charges, a dramatic devel- fered a setback when the
opment in a sprawling graft speaker of the lower Cham-
probe that has roiled Latin ber of Deputies in Congress
America’s largest nation slammed a tough-on-crime
and shows no sign of slow- bill the former judge put
ing. forward and said it would
In a statement, the Pros- only be considered after a
ecutors Office in Rio de major reform to the pension
Janeiro said that Judge system.
Marcelo Breitas had issued Breitas’ decision to arrest
an arrest order for Temer, Temer will go a long way to
as well as Moreira Franco, answering questions about
a former minister and close the future of the probe.
ally of Temer, and eight “If Lula and Temer can go
others. to jail, who cannot?” said
Construction company En- Carlos Melo, political sci-
gevix paid Temer bribes in In this June 1, 2018 file photo, Brazil’s President Michel Temer pauses during a speech at the ence professor at Insper
exchange for a contract Planalto Presidential Palace, in Brasilia, Brazil. University in Sao Paulo.
to build a nuclear power- Associated Press “There are several formerly
plant in the city of Angra images of the former presi- tablishes individual liberties versally call Lula. high-ranking politicians not
dos Reis in the southern dent being accompanied and the presumption of in- Former Judge Sergio Moro, in office at the moment,
part of Rio de Janeiro state, by police in Sao Paulo, nocence,” it read. who oversaw many Car which makes them more
prosecutors said. where Temer lives. Helicop- Breitas is overseeing the Wash cases and became exposed to police investi-
One of the Engevix ex- ter images showed Temer Rio portion of a massive an internationally known gations.” Temer, who was
ecutives told prosecutors getting out of a police con- corruption probe involv- anti-corruption crusader, vice president, came to
in a plea bargain testi- voy at an airport, presum- ing kickbacks to politicians stepped down at the end the presidency in 2016 af-
mony that he paid more ably to be brought to Rio and public officials. Since of last year to become jus- ter President Dilma Rousseff
than US$300,000 in 2014 to de Janeiro and processed. launching in March 2014, tice minister. was impeached and oust-
a company owned by a In a statement, Temer’s Bra- the so-called Car Wash in- Many worried that Moro’s ed from office for misman-
close Temer associate, Col. zilian Democratic Move- vestigation has led to the absence could hurt the in- aging the federal budget.
Joao Baptista Lima Filho. ment party called the ar- jailing of top businessmen vestigations. And the Car Rousseff and allies in her
An arrest warrant was also rest “haphazard.” and politicians, including Wash probe has suffered a Workers’ Party accused
issued for Lima Filho. “The party hopes that the ex-President Luiz Inacio Lula handful of recent defeats, Temer of orchestrating her
Globo Television showed Justice Department re-es- da Silva, who Brazilians uni- including a decision by the ouster, which he denied.q

Facing arrest warrant, candidate delays return to Guatemala

By SONIA PEREZ D. of candidate registry, said is solid and police would
Associated Press there is still a period when carry it out if she returns to
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — other parties can chal- the country. Rotman Perez,
Presidential hopeful and lenge her registration and Aldana’s legal adviser, said
former chief prosecutor immunity would take effect Thursday that she will not
Thelma Aldana will not im- only once that is over. be back in Guatemala until
mediately return to Guate- As chief prosecutor, Al- her security is guaranteed.
mala after a warrant was dana pressed a number “She is afraid for her safety,
issued for her arrest, she of high-profile corruption for her life,” Perez said. “This
said in interviews with local investigations including has gone beyond the legal
media Thursday. cases against current Presi- (arena). She does not rule
Aldana, who has been in dent Jimmy Morales and out that someone could
neighboring El Salvador some of his relatives and want to harm her.”
since Monday, said in brief associates, as well as for- Aldana’s legal team has
comments to Prensa Libre Thelma Aldana, representing the Seed Movement Party, listens mer President Otto Perez requested various judicial
to a journalist’s question during a press conference regarding
and Guatevision that she her presidential nomination, in Guatemala City, on Sunday, Molina, who remains in cus- measures for her safety.
is not coming back Thurs- March 10, 2019. tody awaiting trial. Aldana has accused po-
day as previously planned. Associated Press Both have denied any litical adversaries, includ-
Aldana, 63, also said her had been issued over al- law provides her immunity wrongdoing, and Morales ing those she locked up
team was evaluating the leged embezzlement re- from criminal prosecution. has not been charged. At- for graft in her role as pros-
situation and she intends to lated to anomalies in a Her future is not entirely tempts to have his immu- ecutor, of being part of
return soon. contract during her time in clear, however, given dif- nity lifted have fallen short a “pact of the corrupt,”
Calls from The Associated office, but authorities have ferent interpretations of of approval by the judiciary which purportedly includes
Press to Aldana were not not given details. Guatemalan law. Some or congress. Interior Minis- politicians, businesspeople,
answered. That same day, Aldana lawyers believe she already ter Enrique Degenhart has judges, prosecutors and
A Guatemalan court said was formally registered for enjoys legal protection. But said that as far as he’s con- private citizens implicated
Tuesday that the warrant the June election, which by Leopoldo Guerra, director cerned, the arrest warrant in corruption.q