Sinibaldi in the spotlight...and not in a good way

Será difícil superar al gobierno de PérezMolina-Baldetti y el Partido Patriota como el más corrupto en la historia democrática de Guatemala.

— MiguelGonzálezMoraga (@magmoraga) July 15, 2017

It seems like only yesterday that former Communications Director Alejandro Sinibaldi resigned from the Patriotic Party (PP) and as its presidential candidate because of the ruling party's corruption. Now here we are two years later and Sinibaldi's involvement in various corruption schemes during the Perez Molina years are finally coming to light.

CICIG and Guatemalan prosecutors allege the Sinibaldi and former Ambassador Julio Ligorria "misused more than $10 million in government funds."

Prosecutors called the case "Construction and Corruption" and divided it into two parts.

In the first, they allege, Sinibaldi accepted kickbacks for public works contracts then moved them through front companies formed by his companies between 2011 and 2015. Some of the funds were allegedly laundered in neighboring Nicaragua.

Sinibaldi faces charges of conspiracy, bribery, money laundering and illegal campaign financing.

In the second part, Ligorria used his influence to resolve litigation between phone companies in exchange for money paid through Sinibaldi's front companies, prosecutors allege.

They said that money was funneled back to the Patriot Party, which carried now jailed former President Otto Perez Molina to office.

Ligorria faces charges of illegal campaign financing.

Guatemalans were right to be disappointed with their presidential choices in 2011. Is it possible we are at the point now where Manuel Baldizon would have been a better president than Otto Perez Molina? Nah. At least El Periodico can stop saying that the Colom administration was the most corrupt in Guatemala's history.