Guatemala ex-president Perez released from prison on parole

Former Guatemalan president Otto Perez has been released from prison on parole after serving eight years behind bars and paying bail on two corruption convictions, a lawyer said Thursday.

"Having satisfied the two financial bonds and alternative measures, he was released yesterday (Wednesday night)," Cesar Calderon, a lawyer who worked on both cases, told AFP.

The 73-year-old former army general resigned from the Guatemalan presidency on 3 September 2015, amid massive demonstrations against corruption in his government. He was jailed the same day.

The first conviction, in 2022, saw Perez sentenced to 16 years for leading a massive customs fraud scheme while in office.

The former leader secured release after paying a $1.2 million bail in the case, by guaranteeing two real estate properties belonging to his family, his lawyer said.

In the second case, he was sentenced this past September to eight years for his role in a bribe-taking scheme. He had paid about $40,000 in fines.

In both cases, judges had granted Perez pathways to secure conditional release from prison.

Under the conditions of his parole, he is prohibited from leaving the country.