Guatemala court orders President Perez Molina not to leave the country

The attorney general's office, which made the request, announced the judge's order on Twitter, hours after the Congress decided to withdraw the immunity from prosecution heretofore enjoyed by President Molina, who is implicated in the customs corruption network known as "La Linea."

Attorney General Thelma Aldana told reporters they had requested the order as there was a risk of the president leaving the country.

"I believe it was a necessary, precautionary measure," Aldana explained, minutes after the attorney general office confirmed judge Miguel Angel Galvez had granted the order.

The main objective is to ensure the president is present during the criminal proceedings against him.

Aldana said that Molina's decision to continue as president would not interfere in the process as he was now a "common citizen" (without his immunity) in the eyes of the judicial system.

The attorney general said they will shortly assess the request for preventive detention for the president.

Prosecutors are studying the case and have not ruled out more charges against Molina besides those of illicit association, passive bribery and customs fraud that they will press against him.

Aldana said the current situation was provoking mixed sentiments as, on the one hand, it showed that nobody was above the law, on the other, it was shameful that a serving president would be facing criminal proceedings.

However, she added that the case of the "La Linea" criminal ring, in which former vice-president Roxana Baldetti is also an alleged participant, was very vast with a lot of material pending investigation.