Alex Papadovassilakis writes in InSight Crime on the continuing hollowing out of independent prosecutors who have been tackling the rampant corruption and impunity that is gripping Guatemala. With cries of corruption mounting against Guatemala’s president, the country’s Attorney General, Consuelo… Read More ›
Alex Papadovassilakis
Fugitive Guatemala Minister Surrenders Amid Attacks on Justice System
Alex Papadovassilakis writes in InSight Crime on the ‘spontaneous’ and ‘voluntary’ surrender of a high level fugitive, more than a year after he was charged with money laundering. A minister in the government of Jimmy Morales, he is wanted in… Read More ›
Social Insecurity: The Case of IGSS-Pisa in Guatemala
Alex Papadovassilakis wrote up, recently, in InSight Crime, his investigation into serious levels of corruption into Guatemala’s social security system. The levels of corruption amongst the elites in Guatemala continue to stagger. It’s like the word ‘enough’ does not exist… Read More ›
A Blend of Family and Politics in Guatemala’s Cocaine Trade
Alex Papadovassilakis writes in InSight Crime about the nexus of family, politics and criminal activity that occurs in some of Guatemala’s more isolated regions. This, against a backdrop of the criminalisation of human rights defenders and the facilitation of top-level… Read More ›
Despite Outrage, Guatemala Continues to Bulldoze Anti-Corruption Edifice
Alex Papadovassilakis writes in InSight Crime on the sacking of Juan Francisco Sandoval last week from his post as head of FECI, Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity, and after-shocks. The dismissal of Juan Francisco Sandoval, the country’s leading anti-corruption prosecutor,… Read More ›
Washington Cracks Down on Guatemala Corruption
US sanctions on two Guatemalan politicians — one a political operator and the other an influential legislator — are the latest salvo by Washington to show it is serious about taking on corruption in Central America. Alex Papadovassilakis writes in… Read More ›
Guatemala Cross-Border Crime and Corruption Investigation
InSight Crime made a presentation recently regarding an investigation into cross-border crime and corruption in Guatemala. Drug trafficking has been reconfigured in Guatemala. The large clans that traditionally dominated the business have broken up. Now the main actors are small… Read More ›
Renewed ‘La Línea’ Investigations Further Implicate Guatemala Officials
Between May 2014 and April 2015, the criminal network known as “La Línea,” took in over 5.1 million quetzales ($666,000) in bribes, and the scheme cost the government at least 14.3 million quetzales ($1.85 million) in taxes. Alex Papadovassilakis writes… Read More ›