Bid to lift Guatemala president's immunity advances in Congress [View all]

[Judi Lynn]

Sat Aug 29, 2015 8:37pm EDT

Bid to lift Guatemala president's immunity advances in Congress

GUATEMALA CITY


Aug 29 A Guatemalan congressional committee on Saturday recommended that President Otto Perez be stripped of immunity from prosecution over his suspected involvement in a customs racket, paving the way for a full vote in Congress in the coming days.

The five-member congressional committee told a news conference that Congress could vote on their recommendation as early as Tuesday. Presidential immunity can be lifted with a vote in favor by at least two-thirds of the 158-member Congress.

That vote will be closely watched after the Guatemalan Supreme Court on Tuesday approved a request by Guatemala's attorney general to impeach the president.

If Congress votes to lift his immunity, the Supreme Court then turns the matter to prosecutors, who would then able to bring charges against him in court.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/30/guatemala-corruption-idUSL1N1140IZ20150830?rpc=401