Washington, January 27: Guatemalan authorities on Tuesday arrested former President Alfonso Portillo on a US extradition request related to money-laundering charges.
After four days on the run, Portillo was tracked down at the northeastern beach resort of Punta de Palma, while preparing to flee Guatemala by boat.
The 58-year-old former leader, who left office in 2004, is accused of embezzling tens of millions of dollars of state funds during his presidency and laundering at least $6.5 million through American banks.
US prosecutors say the laundered money was stolen from a children’s charity. A Guatemalan court approved the extradition request on Friday.
Portillo served as president from 2000 to 2004 before fleeing to Mexico. He was sent back to Guatemala in 2008 to face embezzlement charges at home — which he has repeatedly denied.
Portillo’s lawyer had said earlier that the ex-president would not surrender, claiming that the charges against him were political.
——Agencies