El Salvador: 10 Arrested for Helping Ex-President Launder US$ 22 Million

Published: 17 February 2017

10 Arrested El Salvador

Mugshots of the 10 suspects arrested Thursday (Photo: General Prosecutor's Office of El Salvador) 

By N'dea Akei Yancey-Bragg

Authorities in El Salvador said they arrested 10 people for helping former President Elias Antonio Saca launder US$ 22 million of public money.

According to the chief prosecutor, the suspects were part of an organized network that helped the former leader redirect millions through radio stations owned by the Samix Groupa media company founded by the President and his wife.

Saca’s brother in law and a prominent publicist were among those arrested. Four suspects remain at large.

Late Wednesday and early Thursday morning police raided three advertising agencies and an accounting firm searching for evidence.

The former president was arrested in November 2016 along with several other former officials for illegally diverting approximately US$ 246 million from the National Treasury.