The judge resigned June 7, saying there was not enough support from the Guatemalan executive branch in the fight against impunity.
The Costa Rican prosecutor “has solid experience in criminal investigations and high-profile cases, and for this reason he has been chosen for the position,” explained Santos.
“It is now critical that the new commissioner arrives in Guatemala to quickly take up the work of the CICIG,” Santos continued.
Castresana’s successor has excellent credentials in the fight against corruption and against criminal groups that have increased insecurity levels in Central America, according to a statement issued by the UN.
CICIG is the outcome of a December 2006 agreement signed by the Guatemalan government and the U.N. and ratified by the Guatemalan Parliament the following year, despite opposition by some political groups who felt the commission was an invasion of national sovereignty.
The commission’s goal is to uncover the existence of criminal organizations, collaborate with the state to dismantle the groups and to research, punish and sanction the crimes committed by these groups.
