Guatemala prison chief arrested in corruption probe

[Judi Lynn]

2. Man accused of controlling Guatemala organised crime

Saturday 6th September 2014
Man accused of controlling Guatemala organised crime

by SONIA PEREZ in GUATEMALA CITY

AN ARMY captain serving 20 years for killing a bishop has been charged with building a multimillion-dollar prison empire based on threats and corruption.

Guatemalan prosecutors have accused Byron Lima Oliva, 44, of money-laundering and organised crime, saying he took cash from inmates in return for prohibited mobile phones, food and conjugal visits.

“Lima represents for many of the inmates the true authority, and so they turn to him to seek transfers, favours and rights,” said Ivan Velasquez, head of the UN International Commission Against Impunity, which targets crime and corruption in Guatemala. “Lima Oliva exerts undoubtable influence in the penitentiary system,” he added.

Mr Velasquez said the investigation found that Lima possessed several properties, including a beach home, and various luxury vehicles, despite being behind bars.

More:
http://www.scotsman.com/news/world/man-accused-of-controlling-guatemala-organised-crime-1-3531928

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Also mentioned in other articles:

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Lima has boasted in the past of friendship with the president, Otto Perez Molina, and claims to have helped provide his 2011 campaign with money from businessmen. The office of the president, also a former soldier, declined to comment.

Lima was sentenced in 2001 along with three other men for the killing of Bishop Juan Jose Gerardi. The 75-year-old activist clergyman was bludgeoned to death in 1998, two days after he presented a report blaming the military for most of the 200,000 deaths in the 1960-96 civil war.