Guatemala City, Aug 25 (EFE).- Former Guatemalan vice-president Roxana Baldetti Monday refused to testify during a court hearing in which prosecutors accused her of leading a network of customs corruption, a case in which President Otto Perez Molina is also implicated.
"At this time I will not declare your honor," said Baldetti, who resigned on May 8 after her name came up in the customs fraud case known as 'The Line'.
During the first hearing against the former high official in the High Risk Court B, presided over by Miguel Angel Galvez, the prosecution exhibited several wiretap conversation as evidence to support its accusations.
Mario Cano, the lawyer of the former vice president, said her client, the first woman to assume the second highest office in the country, does not appear directly in the talks and her link to them "has not been clarified."
In addition, Cano said Tuesday he will ask "alternative measures" to prevent Baldetti from continuing in prison, where she has been detained since last Friday following her arrest from a private medical center.
In the latest findings, the prosecution showed a table that documents the alleged bribery structure The Line sent to the ministries of Defense, Interior and Energy and Mines.
However, the table did not specify the portfolio holders at that time except in the case of Energy and Mines, in which the surname Archila of the former minister of the portfolio was mentioned.
The hearing will continue Tuesday at 9:00 local time (15:00 GMT), with the defense arguing its position.