http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-27531896Former President of Guatemala Alfonso Portillo, who had plead guilty to a single count conspiracy to launder money involved through American banks in March, was sentenced yesterday to five years and ten months in prison by Judge Robert Patterson, who said that the case "will have an impact on how we treat corruption in this country".
Portillo who also stood accused of bribery, admitted to taking $2.5 million in bribes from Taiwan, to maintain Guatemala's recognition of Taiwan. He is receiving credit for time, which means he has roughly eighteen months of his sentence left to serve. Patterson has not committed to a decision on whether that time will be spent in the United States or Guatemala.
Taiwan, meanwhile is under the microscope for the significant financial ties to many Central American and Caribbean Countries that reject China's claim of sovereignty on the island. Former President of El Salvador, Francisco Flores Perez, is facing similar charges in his home country.
