NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL MAKING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION

C O N F I D E N T I A L SAN SALVADOR 001823

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10 YEARS
TAGS: EFIN PGOV SNAR KCRM KJUS ES
SUBJECT: NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL MAKING A GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION


Classified By: DCM Michael Butler for reasons 1.4(b) & (d)


1. (SBU) Summary: On April 20, 2006, the Salvadoran
Legislature elected Felix Garrid Safie as Attorney General of
the Republic (FGR). Safie was nominated after his
predecessor, Belasario Artiga, failed to garner enough
support for his reelection bid. With only two months on the
job, Safie has already undertaken several important
initiatives, such as prosecuting high-profile money
laundering and trafficking in persons cases. Most
importantly, Safie has recommitted the FGR to working closely
with the PNC to achieve successful prosecutions. End
Summary.


2. (U) On April 20, 2006, the Salvadoran Legislature elected
Felix Garrid Safie as Attorney General of the Republic (FGR).
Safie, an ARENA party operative, had been serving as the
Director of the National Registration Center (Centro Nacional
de Registro) since 1999. Safie worked in the private sector
as an attorney and business consultant prior to his
appointment to the CNR.


3. (C) Safie was nominated after his predecessor, Belasario
Artiga, failed to garner enough support for his reelection
bid. Although the Embassy was silent on the issue of
Artiga's election, it was widely known in the GOES and the
Legislature that Post law enforcement agencies were not
pleased with Artiga's performance. Despite ample support
from DEA and DHS, Artiga refused to provide the necessary
resources to prosecute money laundering, trafficking in
persons, and human smuggling cases. After consulting with
Police Director Avila, who advocated strongly on Safie's
behalf, Post agreed to neither support nor oppose Safie's
election. Thus far, we have not been disappointed.


4. (C) With only two months on the job, Safie has already
undertaken several important initiatives. First, unlike his
predecessor, Safie is vigorously pursuing a DEA-generated
money laundering case in which one of the principal suspects
-- who is presently in custody -- is a prominent and wealthy
local businessman. (Septel). In addition, the FGR recently
achieved its first conviction for trafficking in persons
(TIP) under the more stringent TIP law enacted in 2004.
(Note: Prior convictions for TIP-related activities were
actually charged as sexual exploitation, a lesser offense.
End note.). Finally, Safie has pledged to investigate seven
judges whose recent rulings suggest that their legal
decisions were influenced by bribes or other self interests.



5. (C) Most importantly, Safie has recommitted the FGR to
working closely with the PNC to achieve successful
prosecutions. This working relationship did not exist under
Safie's predecessor. (See 2006 INCSR and TIP reports). In
furtherance of fostering greater cooperation, Safie has
relocated FGR units dealing with narcotics, money laundering,
and organized crime from the FGR building to a separate
location more easily accessible by the police. In addition,
the narcotics and money laundering units now have a secure
computer link with their police counterparts (provided by INL
and Treasury). In short, Safie expects his units to
cooperate with the PNC, and is taking measures to ensure said
collaboration.


6. (C) Comment: Safie understands that the Embassy's silence
during the selection process helped his candidacy. We will
continue to press him on his efforts to reform the FGR.
Butler