(남미/과테말라) 과테말라 대통령 여행 금지 조치 당하다

출처: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-34124485

4 hours ago: September 2, 2015

Guatemala President Perez Molina barred from travelling

Anti-corruption protesters were jubilant when news of the vote came through

A judge has barred Guatemalan President Otto Perez Molina from leaving the country.

The travel ban was imposed just hours after congress voted to remove his immunity from prosecution.

Prosecutors accuse the president of masterminding a scheme to defraud the customs service of millions of dollars, which he denies.

The president, whose term runs out in January, could now be summoned to appear before a court.

A spokesman for Mr Perez Molina said the president would be "very respectful and submit himself to the rule of law".

Unprecedented move

On Tuesday, all members of congress present at the vote endorsed a move to strip the president of his immunity.

President Otto Perez Molina refused to step down on Monday

They included members of the president's own party.

A previous vote to remove his immunity failed last month.

But since then, more details of the corruption scandal have emerged and calls for the president to resign have increased.

---

Analysis: Katy Watson, BBC News, Guatemala City

A vote in favour was expected but it did not stop the nerves - would enough politicians turn up and would members of the president's party vote against him?

When the results came in, there was lots of clapping and cheering. Guatemalans couldn't be happier. The demonstration outside the congress building turned into a party, with people chanting: "Yes we could!"

For the past four months, Guatemalans have been going out on the streets to protest over government corruption and calling for the president to resign.

This paves the way for the country's leader to be tried like any ordinary citizen and there is a sense of relief that, finally, politicians are not above the law.

---

Investigators allege that government officials received a cut from bribes paid by businesses seeking to evade import duties.

Vice-President Roxana Baldetti and a string of top officials have been forced to resign over the scandal.

Ms Baldetti is in jail awaiting trial on charges of taking millions of dollars in bribes.

A series of anti-corruption protests have been held in Guatemala in recent months

The president was stripped of his immunity just days before presidential elections on Sunday.

Some protesters have demanded that the polls be postponed, but officials argue that it would be against the law.

Mr Otto Perez Molina is barred by the constitution from standing again.