Guatemalan President, Otto Perez Molina has resigned today after a Judge issued a warrant for his arrest. Otto Perez is embroiled in a corruption case with allegations of using the country’s customs service for a fraud scheme. Under Guatemalan law, a President is automatically removed from office if he is remanded in prison custody.
Yesterday, the Congress stripped him of immunity, opening the way for his prosecution. Otto Perez came into power in 2012 and was due to leave office in January 2016.
Guatemala faces something of a dilemma as to who takes over from Perez as his Vice President, Roxana Baldetti is in preventive custody as she faces charges of illicit association, passive bribery, and customs fraud.
She is also charged with with being the leader of “La Linea”, a large criminal network which was publicly named as being responsible for stealing millions in public funds.