Guatemalan Congress strips president's immunity

Guatemala's Congress has voted to strip embattled President Otto Perez of his immunity, clearing the way for him to be prosecuted for allegedly masterminding a multi-million-dollar corruption scheme.

Hours after the resolution was passed unanimously yesterday by the 132 lawmakers present, a judge barred Perez, a conservative ex-military man, from leaving the country.

The result gives Perez the dubious distinction of becoming the first president to have his immunity revoked in the Central American country's history.

After months of unprecedented protests that have swept Guatemala, hundreds of demonstrators outside Congress erupted into jubilant cheers at the news, chanting "yes we did" as passing drivers honked their horns in celebration.
 

The vote clears the way for prosecutors to charge Perez, a 64-year-old retired general, with running a scheme that allowed businesses to reduce their customs duty by paying bribes to corrupt officials.

Perez's lawyers filed a motion Monday challenging the immunity vote before the Constitutional Court, which is expected to rule by tomorrow.