By Kim Kalunian, with reporting by Steve Klamkin, WPRO News
Providence Mayor Jorge Elorza is reacting to the news that Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina is sitting in jail awaiting trial on corruption charges just weeks after the pair met to discuss a potential sister city partnership between Providence and Antigua.
Elorza said he had heard of allegations, but wasn’t aware Perez Molina was in such hot water when the pair met.
“I didn’t know to the extent it was, I did know that there were allegations,” Elorza said Tuesday when asked if he had any inclination what type of trouble Perez Molina was in. “I did know that the Vice President had stepped down, but they were allegations at that point.”
Allegations of corruption began to swirl against Perez Molina in April. Elorza travelled down to Guatemala in mid-August. Elorza said he had a “very productive trip” and met with a number of business leaders and organizations. He calls his time with President Perez Molina “one very small meeting” that lasted about 15 minutes.
Elorza sat with Perez Molina on Tuesday, August 18. On September 2, Perez Molina was stripped of political immunity, formally submitted his resignation and was jailed soon after.
According to the Wall Street Journal, “the president faces charges of fraud, illicit association and corruption related to a customs fraud ring that gave discounts on import tariffs to companies in exchange for kickbacks.” The BBC reports, “prosecutors allege the scheme collected $3.8 million in bribes between May 2014 and April 2015, including $800,000 each to Mr. Perez and former vice-president Roxana Baldetti, who has already been jailed.”
The allegations that surfaced in the spring prompted daily protests in Guatemala, but Perez Molina maintained his innocence throughout.
“Now that he is behind bars I hope he faces justice,” said Elorza.
Perez Molina is set to stay in jail until his trial begins in three months, according to reports.
“To see the leader of their country in jail sends a message to every other politician going forward that this isn’t going to be tolerated,” said Elorza. “So I think that is very optimistic for the future of the country.”
