2023-12-01 23:59:20
The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Department of the Treasury sanctioned Luis Miguel Martínez former director of the extinct Government Center, for his alleged involvement in acts of corruption, with the Global Magnitsky Act that includes perpetrators of serious human rights abuses and corruption around the world.
Perspective Writing.
With this sanction, all property and interests in property of Matínez that are located in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. Additionally, any entity that is owned, directly or indirectly, individually or jointly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons is also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC.
Additionally, OFAC regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interest in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons. The prohibitions include making any contribution or provision of funds, goods or services by, for or for the benefit of any designated person, or receiving any contribution or provision of funds, goods or services from any such person.
THE ARGUMENTS OF THE SANCTION
In a statement from the United States Department of the Treasury, they describe the Center of Government as a “powerful, quasi-cabinet-level agency created by Giammattei, at the beginning of his administration.”
Additionally, they mention that President Giammattei was forced to close the Government Center in December 2020 following the violent reaction to Martínez’s growing power in the Government. They add that, during his tenure as head of the Center of Government, Martínez was considered one of the most unelected officials. powerful in the government. “Although he does not currently hold a government position, Martínez remains one of the most influential people in the Giammattei administration,” they say.
In this context, they accuse Martínez, (close to President Alejandro Giammattei and member of the official party) of participating in widespread bribery schemes, including schemes related to government contracts.
According to the US government, Martínez has influenced the government contracting process for the benefit of himself and his close collaborators and conspired with other officials to illegally award contracts to favored bidders outside of Guatecompras, the Guatemalan government’s formal procurement system. Martínez was in charge of the Government Center, an institution created by Giammattei at the beginning of his Government. (Credit. Govt. Press).
“Martinez and his conspirators used an outdated procurement law to waive the bidding process and secure government contracts for companies in which he has a financial interest,” the Treasury Department document states.
In this context, they explain that in 2021, Martínez allegedly requested “big bribes to facilitate the purchase of Russian Sputnik V vaccines by the Government of Guatemala.” For this reason, they detail that, at the time, Guatemala’s special anti-corruption agency investigated Martínez for his role in a controversial payment linked to the purchase of 16 million doses of Russian Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines by the Guatemalan government.
“Martinez is being designated pursuant to EO 13818 as a foreign person who is a current or former government official, or a person acting for or on behalf of such official, who is responsible or complicit, or who participated directly or indirectly in corruption, including misappropriation of state property, expropriation of private property for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery,” the publication reads.
“Today’s action underscores the corrosive impact of corruption on public trust in government institutions. Martínez sought to take advantage of his privileged position for personal benefit at the expense of the Guatemalan people,” said Treasury Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson.
He added that, “The United States government will continue to hold accountable people whose corrupt schemes undermine democracy and harm populations around the world.”
As they reported, “corrupt and undemocratic acts, including those that threaten the integrity of an orderly transition of power in Guatemala, undermine Guatemala’s democratic institutions and threaten the stability of Guatemala and the region as a whole. The Guatemalan people have spoken and their voices must be respected”.
GOVERNMENT WITHOUT POSTURE
For now, the Government has not commented for the sanction against Martínez, despite the fact that on other occasions, the president has referred to the sanctions imposed by the United States against Guatemalan officials.
#sanctions #director #Government #Center #Miguel #Martínez #Magnitsky #Law