Guatemala arrests 16 in health care corruption scandal
May 20, 1:17 PM EDT
Guatemala arrests 16 in health care corruption scandal
Guatemalan authorities have arrested more than a dozen public servants and private citizens in connection with a health care corruption case.
Prosecutors allege Wednesday that officials at the Guatemalan Social Security Institute took money to switch contracts for the provision of medicine and treatment to kidney patients. Several patients died following the change.
Prosecutors and a U.N. commission investigating criminal networks in the country raided multiple homes and detained 16 people on suspicion of fraud, influence trafficking and other charges. Social Security president Juan de Dios Rodriguez is among the suspects.
The U.N. commission was also involved in uncovering a customs corruption scandal last month that led to dozens of arrests and the resignation of Vice President Roxana Baldetti. She has not been charged.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/L/LT_GUATEMALA_CORRUPTION_?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-05-20-13-17-56
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