Former El Salvador security minister accused of money laundering

(CNN Spanish) – The Attorney General of the Republic of El Salvador accused former Minister of Public Security René Mario Figueroa and his wife, Cecilia Alvarenga Coronada, of money and assets laundering during a hearing held this Monday at the First Sentencing Court of San Salvador.

According to the Salvadoran authorities, Figueroa and his partner had laundered US $ 3.7 million through the creation of companies and radio groups during the last administration of the Alianza Republicana Nacionalista (Arena) party, chaired by Elías Antonio Saca between 2004 and 2009. .

El Salvador’s attorney general, Rodolfo Delgado, informed the press that René Mario Figueroa and his wife will have to return to the State the sum of US $ 1.5 million and a fine of 20 minimum wages for each, in addition to serving a sentence three years in prison.

According to the determination of the Attorney General’s Office, the former minister is responsible for restoring US $ 1.1 million to the State and to his spouse another US $ 360,000. The rest of the amount will compete with companies linked to the process.

At the moment, neither Figueroa nor his spouse have ruled on the accusations against him. It is unknown when a future hearing related to this case will take place.