Three judges, including one implicated in the ‘La Linea’ customs fraud case, were arrested on Tuesday on corruption charges, the Guatemalan Attorney-General’s Office said.

The judges in custody are Marta Sierra de Stalling, Eric de Leon and Jisela Yadel Reinoso, AG’s Office spokesperson Julia Barrera told reporters.

On Sept 9, the Supreme Court annulled immunity for Sierra de Stalling, who had allegedly accepted bribes in exchange for freeing members of the La Linea customs corruption ring last April, which led to the fall of the Otto Perez Molina government.

Authorities accuse Sierra de Stalling of “making illegal deals” to free on bail six La Linea defendants, including Luis Alberto Mendizabal Urritia, who remains at large.

The La Linea case forced Perez Molina to step down from the presidency this September, and Roxana Baldetti to resign the vice-presidency last May.

Both are now in custody and facing charges.

Judge De Leon is accused of scheming to collect some 10 million quetzals (US$1.2 million) in exchange for a ruling favourable for a company.

The AG’s Office spokesperson said that Reinoso is accused of laundering money and other assets, illicit enrichment, obstruction of justice and noncompliance with the duty to present a personal property affidavit.

Investigations found that Reinoso increased her wealth by an “unjustified” amount and possessed assets far beyond her purchasing power and incongruous with the income she received as a public servant and educator.

- Bernama-NNN-EFE