Guatemalan President Otto Perez said he is calm and confident he has done nothing wrong, as lawmakers debated stripping his immunity and forcing him to face prosecution on corruption charges.
Investigators say Perez, ex-vice president Baldetti and a raft of other top officials operated a scheme in which businesses paid bribes to clear customs.
“I reiterate yet again my position on the allegations made by the prosecution, and it is that I am completely calm,” he told a press conference.
The conservative president has faced mounting calls for his resignation since UN investigators accused him of running a massive fraud scheme at the national customs service, a scandal that has already felled his former vice president and caused nearly half his cabinet to resign.
His latest denial came after a congressional investigative committee recommended Saturday that he be stripped of his presidential immunity and prosecuted.
The decision now moves to the full legislature, where 105 lawmakers out of 158 would have to vote in favor of such a resolution.
Just before Perez's press conference, his lawyer filed a motion with the Constitutional Court to block the vote, which is expected in the coming days.
Investigators say Perez, arrested ex-vice president Roxana Baldetti and a raft of other top officials operated a scheme in which businesses paid bribes to clear their imports through customs at a fraction of the actual tax rate.
Perez, a 64-year-old retired general and the founder of the Patriotic Party, has apologised for the fact the graft happened on his watch, but denies involvement.
He has repeatedly rejected calls to resign before his term ends in January -- a stance he reiterated Monday.
“I have not received a cent from this fraudulent system, which was practically robbing the people,” Perez said.
“There's something important here, and that is the presumption of innocence until proven guilty.”
The turmoil comes as Guatemala prepares for elections on Sunday that will decide Perez's successor. The president, who has been in office since 2012, is constitutionally barred from running for reelection.
The scandal has triggered weeks of mass protests. Perez said he understands the protesters' outrage, but urged ”each individual to reflect... on whether (the accusations) are true or not”.
Bernama
Tue Sep 01 2015
OTTO: I reiterate yet again my position on the allegations made by the prosecution, and it is that I am completely calm.
Penolong pegawai penguat kuasa KPDN didakwa tipu kurangkan kadar kompaun
Seorang penolong pegawai penguat kuasa KPDN didakwa atas pertuduhan menipu seorang lelaki untuk membantu mengurangkan kadar kompaun.
AWANI Ringkas: Faktor penyumbang tragedi helikopter terhempas
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Mesyuarat PAC 2024 MPOB teliti projek penyelidikan, isu industri sawit negara
Lembaga Minyak Sawit Malaysia (MPOB) akan meneliti projek penyelidikan dan isu dalam industri sawit Malaysia.
Tidak tuntut nafkah, Adira faham keadaan Datuk Red
"Saya tidak mahukan apa-apa sebab saya tak nak susahkan lagi Datuk Red... dia pun tengah down. Kita doakan yang terbaik untuk dia."
Legenda badminton dunia berkumpul di Menara Eiffel
Chong Wei memberikan penghormatan khas kepada penganjur Perlawanan Paris 100 kerana menjemputnya ke perlawanan legenda badminton terbaik dunia.
Pengasas Mustika Ratu meninggal dunia pada usia 96 tahun
Pemergian Mooryati disifatkan kehilangan besar kepada Indonesia, khususnya dalam aspek pembangunan wanita, kecantikan dan kesihatan.
Azerbaijan minta ICJ teruskan kes terhadap Armenia
Azerbaijan meminta Mahkamah Keadilan Antarabangsa (ICJ) untuk meneruskan kes yang menuduh Armenia menjalankan kempen penghapusan etnik, satu daripada dua kes yang dilakukan oleh musuh selama berdekad-dekad konflik etnik mereka.
Ringgit meningkat semula berikutan dolar AS rendah pada sesi awal
Pada 9.05 pagi, ringgit naik kepada 4.7730/7780 berbanding dolar AS daripada 4.7785/7820 pada Selasa.
Bersih gesa lantik segera pengerusi baharu SPR
Bersih mendesak kerajaan supaya segera melaksanakan reformasi pelantikan pengerusi Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR), Tan Sri Abdul Ghani Salleh dan meminda Akta Kesalahan Pilihan Raya 1954.
Keputusan rayuan sabitan bersalah Siti Bainun abai, aniaya Bella tangguh 2 Mei
Pendengaran keputusan rayuan pengasas Rumah Bonda, Siti Bainun Ahd Razali di Mahkamah Tinggi Kuala Lumpur terhadap sabitan dan hukuman penjara 12 tahun bagi kesalahan mengabai serta menganiaya seorang remaja perempuan berstatus Orang Kurang Upaya (OKU) Sindrom Down dikenali sebagai Bella, ditangguhkan pada 2 Mei depan.
Women for zero corruption
If Latheefa Koya's appointment as the new MACC chief goes unchallenged, Malaysia will see the first woman leading the war against corruption.
![[OPINION] Opportunity from chaos](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2017-12/61512547365_shopping.jpg "[OPINION] Opportunity from chaos")
[OPINION] Opportunity from chaos
The biggest clandestine threat is the evaporation of the middle class across the developed world.
PM, Kabinet, Ketua Institusi perlu isytihar harta - Akhbar Satar
Datuk Akhbar Satar turut mencadangkan supaya proses tersebut turut dilakukan pasangan masing-masing dan ahli keluarga terdekat.
China to alter law as it steps up fight against graft fugitives
China plans to change its law to allow judgments to be delivered in corruption cases even when the suspects do not appear in court.
Presiden FIFA: Pemilihan semula Sepp Blatter disambut sinis
Ikrar Blatter bebaskan FIFA dari kemelut rasuah antara yang jadi sindiran.