The Supreme Court of Justice of Guatemala endorsed this Tuesday the request to remove the jurisdiction of electoral magistrates for alleged anomalies in the purchase of a computer system used in the elections won by the social democrat Bernardo Arevalo.
“By majority, the Supreme Court of Justice He processed the proposed preliminary ruling and ordered that it be transferred to Congress for what it sees fit to resolve.” (if he finally removes the immunity of the magistrates), the court advisor told reporters, José Leonel Marroquín.
On September 27, the questioned prosecutor’s office presented the request for the alleged crimes of “abuse of authority, breach of duties and fraud” against eight magistrates of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE).
The Prosecutor’s Office has also taken other actions against the TSE and the Seed movement of Arévalo for alleged irregularities in the registration of affiliates for its creation in 2017.
“This Court considers that the preliminary ruling is not spurious because it has a serious basis supported by the elements of reasonableness provided by the fiscal entity.“Marroquín added.
According to the prosecution, the magistrates incurred irregularities when signing a contract for the computer program for the Transmission of Preliminary Electoral Results (TREP).
He TREP It was acquired for about 19.3 million dollars from a local company and was used to count the electoral records that entered the system and expedite the preliminary results of the elections.
For the prosecution, the magistrates committed fraud against the State by purchasing a service about 4.5 million dollars more expensive than that offered by another company.
“At the discretion of the Public ministrythe pretrial magistrates possibly signed the aforementioned administrative contract using artifices to defraud the State“Marroquín stated when reading the Court’s resolution.
MORE INFORMATION: Guatemala: Arévalo says that Giammattei “insults” the people with his silence and asks them to demand the resignation of Porras
Now it is up to Congress to form a commission that will deliver a report to the plenary session, which will decide whether or not to remove the judges’ immunity from criminal investigation.
On September 14, the president-elect asked to withdraw immunity to Consuelo Porras and to the judge Fredy Orellanawhom he accuses of orchestrating a “coup” to prevent him from assuming power on January 14 to replace the right-wing Alejandro Giammattei.
The persecution against Semilla began after Arévalo came second in the June 25 elections and went to the August 20 runoff, in which he obtained a large victory with his promise to combat corruption.
:quality(75)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/elcomercio/bfae97da-fc74-4b90-9b2e-5ef724f1d3fc.jpg "Guatemala Court supports removing immunity from electoral magistrates due to allegations of fraud 1")
