by The International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (Comisión Internacional Contra la Impunidad en Guatemala – CICIG) is a group considered by several toddlers in the central American country’s corruption investigations, which have reached the highest authorities, including a former president who is in prison.The International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (Comisión Internacional Contra la Impunidad en Guatemala – CICIG) is a group considered by several toddlers in the central American country’s corruption investigations, which have reached the highest authorities, including a former president who is in prison.After operating for more than a decade, Guatemala’s government announced Monday that it has decided to immediately end the agreement that created and operates the CICIG after considering that it overreached in its functions.Here’s a brief explanation of how the CICIG formed, what it does, and how it got there to the present time.
Emergence of the CICIG
On 12 December 2006, Guatemala and the United Nations signed an agreement on the installation in the country of an International Commission Against Impunity. The group started its activities in 2007. The presence of the so-called CICIG was to be ratified by the government every two years. President Jimmy Morales, however, announced in 2018 that the work of the commission would end in September 2019, since he would no longer renew his mandate after several tensions with the group.
What is the CICIG’s mandate?
The CICIG’s operation agreement establishes the objectives of the CICIG to support, strengthen, and assist Guatemalan State institutions responsible for criminal investigation and prosecution to identify and dismantle illegal bodies.As part of that, he could investigate irregular sources of financing and dismantle criminal organizations that operate in the country with the help of state agents with the help of state agents, in addition to recommending public policy to the authorities. It also had the possibility of making complaints against public employees who committed crimes in the exercise of their office.
Relevant cases in Guatemala
Among the main cases that the commission has carried out together with the prosecutor’s office is the investigation and arrest of former President Otto Pérez Molina, who resigned from office in 2015 after investigators pointed him to a millionaire customs fraud and other corruption crimes. Along with Pérez Molina, the majority of his cabinet resigned, who were also prosecuted for various crimes. Pérez Molina is being held awaiting trial.Due to an investigation by the CICIG and the prosecutor’s office, the police arrested in January 2017 the son and brother of current President Jimmy Morales for having presented false documents and invoices for the purchase of Christmas baskets from a public entity, which were paid, but not delivered. Both are currently on trial at large.The commission has also investigated individuals, businessmen, politicians and judges accused of corruption.
