Salvador: they ordered the arrest of former president Salvador Sánchez Cerén accused of illicit enrichment and money laundering

A justice of the peace from El Salvador was decreed on Wednesday the international search and capture of former President Salvador Sánchez Cerén (2014-2019) and four other former officials with the help of Interpol for the costs of Corruption, reported the prosecution.

Maricela Velasquez, head of the Anti-Money Laundering Unit, pointed out that the decision was taken by the second justice of the peace of San Salvador, a court that returned the process to the investigation phase for charges of illicit enrichment and money laundering against Sánchez Cerén and nine other former officials.

“The judge decided to communicate an official letter to Interpol so that they can be located and made available to the competent courts”he told reporters.

Sanchez Cerén He is the fourth president of the Salvadoran democratic scene to have an arrest warrant against him for alleged corruption.

According to the prosecution, Sánchez Cerén would have received $ 530,000 in irregular bonuses when he was vice-president (2009-2014) and the country was ruled by Mauricio Funes.

Both came to power under the banner of Farabundo Martí Front for National Liberation (FMLN), who suffered an electoral debacle as a result of corruption cases linked to their administrations.

The fate of Sánchez Cerén, also a former FMLN guerrilla commander and who left the country at the end of 2020 for Nicaragua, according to security authorities.

Other former officials who have an international arrest warrant are José López Juárez, former chairman of the Port Executive Commission (CEPA) and former private secretary to the presidency. Manuel Melgar, in addition to the former ministers of public works and the environment, Gerson Martinez Yes Lina pohl, respectively.

Those who will keep the temporary prison are the former head of the Treasury Carlos caceres, the former Minister of Health Violeta menjivar, the former vice-ministers Hugo Flores placeholder image Yes Erlinda Reliable, and the former member of the FMLN Calixto Mejia (2014-2017).

These five former officials appeared in court on Tuesday to face the initial hearing of criminal proceedings.

This case arises from the investigation against Funes by the alleged embezzlement of $ 351 million from the state budget.

Funes lives Nicaragua since 2016 and in 2017 received the nationality of this Central American country, whose Constitution prohibits the extradition of its citizens.

(With information from EFE)

Read on: