Juan Carlos Guzmán Berdugo was imprisoned in the neighboring country in early April 2019 while traveling to Panama.
Attorney General Raúl Melara confirmed this afternoon that Costa Rica has authorized the extradition of Juan Carlos Guzmán Berdugo, father-in-law of former fugitive President Mauricio Funes, accused of money laundering in the corruption case known as Public Looting.
“For us as a public prosecutor, this is a message being given, it is a triumph and shows what was said at the time that we would take him to the country to face the money laundering charges for which he was is responsible. processed, Melara said.
The prosecution has accused him of laundering money from the presidency of the republic along with his wife, Ada Luz de Guzmán.
Guzmán Berdugo, father of Ada Mitchell Guzmán Sigüenza, the life partner of the former governor, a refugee from the Salvadoran justice system, was imprisoned in Costa Rica in early April 2019 while traveling to Panama.
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Salvadoran tax and judicial authorities started the extradition process from the time of his arrest, but it was accepted by Costa Rica in November 2019.
However, the delay in guaranteeing Guzmán’s extradition was due to the legal remedies his defenders had filed in Costa Rican courts to prevent his repatriation to the country.
“Mr. Guzmán had the right to use legal remedies, this was processed in the courts of Costa Rica, but today it is announced that the extradition has been approved,” said Melara.
He added that if Guzmán Berdugo’s defense does not file a new appeal to delay his extradition, he could be sent within a month.
“We hope he will be here in the country within a reasonable time … We are convinced that the facts are fully proven and that he should be extradited to the country,” said the attorney general.
Photo shot from Twitter / @nayibbukele
The Attorney General’s Office also responded to the case, sharing part of the Criminal Court’s extradition verdict from the First Judicial Circuit of San José, Costa Rica through its Twitter account.
As a result of a lawsuit initiated by the criminal action of the FGR, Costa Rica today (Wednesday) decides to allow the extradition of former President Mauricio Funes’ father-in-law. After being charged by the FGR, Mr. Guzmán fled to Costa Rica, where he wanted to evade justice, ”said the attorney general’s office.
Photo shot from Twitter / @FGR_SV
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In El Salvador, the arrest warrant was issued against him in June 2017. According to the tax liability, Guzmán Sigüenza’s spouses used public money to buy vehicles, pay for loans and travel abroad, among other things.
In June 2017, the 5th San Salvador Peace Court issued an instruction with detention for Mauricio Funes, his life partner, Ada Mitchell Guzmán, and 13 other defendants related to the public looting case in which $ 351 million was withdrawn from the treasury.
However, it was not until April 2019 that the suspect was detained by Interpol in Costa Rica when he intended to travel to Panama, and after that country approves his extradition, he will be handed over to the country to undergo legal proceedings.
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