2024-01-17 19:05:55
The United States Department of State published a statement on January 17 in which it reported that the former Minister of Energy and Mines of Guatemala, Alberto Pimentel Mata, was sanctioned under the Global Magnitsky Act, for his role in acts of corruption.
The statement, attributed to Matthew Miller, spokesperson for the State Department, states that: “Pimentel used his official position to exploit the Guatemalan mining sector through bribery schemes, including schemes related to government contracts and mining licenses.”.
It is added that corrupt and undemocratic acts undermine Guatemala’s public institutions, threaten regional stability and fuel migration from the northern region of Central America.
“The United States remains committed to taking action against illicit activities carried out by officials who abuse their positions of power to seek personal gain at the expense of the Guatemalan people,” the statement reads.
In the January 17 statement, the State Department says that the Treasury Department’s action was taken in accordance with Executive Order 13818, which is based on and implements “the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and targets the perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption around the world.”
On October 31, 2023, Pimentel had been sanctioned by the US, because “his corrupt actions undermined the rule of law and government transparency in Guatemala,” the State Department reported in a statement.
That sanction was made under Section 7031(c) and included Alberto Pimentel Mata, and his immediate family members who were considered “as generally ineligible to enter the United States”.
That same day, Gendri Rocael Reyes Mazariegos (“Reyes”), former Minister of the Interior, and Óscar Rafael Pérez Ramírez (“Pérez”), Vice Minister of Sustainable Development of the MEM, were also sanctioned.
The three officials worked in the administration of Alejandro Giammattei, who left the presidency of Guatemala on January 14.
It was alleged that Reyes, Pimentel and Pérez accepted bribes in exchange for the performance of their public duties during their mandates. ““His corrupt actions undermined the rule of law and government transparency in Guatemala.”
Free Press y Guatevision They are trying to get a position from former Minister Pimentel, but so far it has not been possible.
What is the Magnitsky Law
The Magnitsky Law was created in 2012 to impose economic sanctions on citizens from around the world who have committed human rights abuses, have engaged in acts of corruption in their own countries or commit crimes related to drug trafficking.
The implications of being sanctioned by the Magnitsky Act are equivalent to “financial death”according to analysts, because no US entity, including banks or credit card companies, can do business with the sanctioned individuals or their companies.
Likewise, US financial institutions cannot relate to others that have ties to those sanctioned. In Guatemala, virtually all banks and financial institutions have transaction flows with their peers in the US.
The Treasury Department, through the Office of Foreign Assets Control (Ofac, in English) indicated that all properties and interests of those sanctioned that are in the United States, or that are in the possession or control of American people are blocked.
Any entity you own, directly or indirectly, or if you own 50 percent or more, is also blocked.
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