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Guatemalan president jailed after resigning

Former general appears in court hours after resigning over customs corruption scandal that has wrecked his government

Guatemalan ex-president Otto Perez (left) is taken away under custody at the end of a hearing at the Supreme Court. Photograph: Johan Ordonez/AFP/Getty Images

Fri Sep 4 2015 - 20:22

Guatemala's Otto Pérez Molina (above) was jailed just hours after resigning as president over a corruption scandal that gutted his government and plunged the Central American country into a political crisis days before a presidential election.

In an emergency session, Congress approved the retired general's resignation. Former vice- president Alejandro Maldonado was sworn in to fill out the remaining months of the presidential term.

Tens of thousands of protesters had flooded the streets of the capital and other cities in recent weeks, calling for Mr Pérez Molina to step down over allegations he was involved in a customs racket.

Alejandro Maldonado, incoming president of Guatemala, stands while being sworn-in. Photographer: Saul Martinez/Bloomberg

Citizens celebrate after the announcement of the loss of immunity of Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina. Photograph: Esteban Biba/EPA

Celebrations over his resignation erupted in a plaza of the capital on Thursday, as the country prepared for presidential and congressional elections on Sunday.

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“I am going to respect due process and face this,” he told reporters after a court hearing and before he was escorted away to jail because he was deemed a flight risk. “I believe this is completely inconsistent.“

In his resignation letter, Mr Pérez Molina said he would face the charges against him "with a clear conscience." – (Reuters)

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