Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07GUATEMALA375
2007-02-22 20:02:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Guatemala
Cable title:
GUATEMALA: POLICEMEN ARRESTED FOR ASSASSINATION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0007 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHGT #0375 0532002 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 222002Z FEB 07 FM AMEMBASSY GUATEMALA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1984 INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO PRIORITY 4017 RHMFIUU/CDR USSOUTHCOM MIAMI FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000375
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM PHUM KJUS ASEC PETER SNAR GT ES
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: POLICEMEN ARRESTED FOR ASSASSINATION
OF SALVADORAN PARLIAMENTARIANS
REF: GUATEMALA 348
UNCLAS GUATEMALA 000375
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM PHUM KJUS ASEC PETER SNAR GT ES
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: POLICEMEN ARRESTED FOR ASSASSINATION
OF SALVADORAN PARLIAMENTARIANS
REF: GUATEMALA 348
1. (SBU) In a February 21 press conference, Guatemalan
Minister of Government Carlos Vielmann announced the arrests
of four members of the Guatemalan Civilian National Police
(PNC) on charges of committing the brutal murders of three
Salvadoran representatives to the Central American Parliament
and a bodyguard/driver (reftel). Two other members of the
PNC believed to have been involved in the crime are still at
large. One of the arrested PNC members was the Chief of the
Banking Section in the Organized Crime Unit in the PNC's
Criminal Investigation Department (DINC). The three other
detainees also belonged to the Organized Crime Unit in the
DINC, the primary investigative organ of the PNC. GOG
authorities declined to speculate publicly on the motives of
the PNC members, saying that the investigation is still in
progress. However, we have heard from GOG sources that they
believe the Salvadoran parliamentarians may have been
carrying a large amount of cash in U.S. dollars that was
presumably stolen.
2. (SBU) Comment: It appears that this multiple homicide
was part of a robbery perpetrated by fairly senior police
officials. PNC involvement in robberies and other criminal
activity has been a persistent problem in Guatemala. This
crime mimics the December 2005 execution and burning of the
owner of a currency exchange business and his four armed
bodyguards in Santa Rosa, a department near the Salvadoran
border; the bodies were discovered in a burned vehicle in an
isolated rural area. This crime was also committed by PNC
members; the ringleader, a mid-level PNC supervisor, is
currently in jail awaiting prosecution for running a stolen
car ring in Guatemala City. Minister of Government Vielmann
is determined to clean up the police and has ordered a record
number of arrests of corrupt cops. Quick action on the part
of several GOG agencies, including the Prosecutor General's
Office (Public Ministry),led to rapid arrests in the case of
the Salvadoran parliamentarians.
Lindwall
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KCRM PHUM KJUS ASEC PETER SNAR GT ES
SUBJECT: GUATEMALA: POLICEMEN ARRESTED FOR ASSASSINATION
OF SALVADORAN PARLIAMENTARIANS
REF: GUATEMALA 348
1. (SBU) In a February 21 press conference, Guatemalan
Minister of Government Carlos Vielmann announced the arrests
of four members of the Guatemalan Civilian National Police
(PNC) on charges of committing the brutal murders of three
Salvadoran representatives to the Central American Parliament
and a bodyguard/driver (reftel). Two other members of the
PNC believed to have been involved in the crime are still at
large. One of the arrested PNC members was the Chief of the
Banking Section in the Organized Crime Unit in the PNC's
Criminal Investigation Department (DINC). The three other
detainees also belonged to the Organized Crime Unit in the
DINC, the primary investigative organ of the PNC. GOG
authorities declined to speculate publicly on the motives of
the PNC members, saying that the investigation is still in
progress. However, we have heard from GOG sources that they
believe the Salvadoran parliamentarians may have been
carrying a large amount of cash in U.S. dollars that was
presumably stolen.
2. (SBU) Comment: It appears that this multiple homicide
was part of a robbery perpetrated by fairly senior police
officials. PNC involvement in robberies and other criminal
activity has been a persistent problem in Guatemala. This
crime mimics the December 2005 execution and burning of the
owner of a currency exchange business and his four armed
bodyguards in Santa Rosa, a department near the Salvadoran
border; the bodies were discovered in a burned vehicle in an
isolated rural area. This crime was also committed by PNC
members; the ringleader, a mid-level PNC supervisor, is
currently in jail awaiting prosecution for running a stolen
car ring in Guatemala City. Minister of Government Vielmann
is determined to clean up the police and has ordered a record
number of arrests of corrupt cops. Quick action on the part
of several GOG agencies, including the Prosecutor General's
Office (Public Ministry),led to rapid arrests in the case of
the Salvadoran parliamentarians.
Lindwall