Guatemala moves closer to extraditing former president to US to face money laundering charges

Guatemala closer to extraditing ex-president to US

GUATEMALA CITY — Guatemala is a step closer to extraditing former President Alfonso Portillo to the United States to face money laundering charges.

Chief prosecutor Amilcar Velasquez says the Mexican government approved extradition. The OK was needed under terms of Mexico’s extradition of Portillo back to Guatemala in 2008 to face domestic corruption charges.

Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department was not immediately available to confirm the report Tuesday.

The 58-year-old Portillo was president from 2000 to 2004. He was charged with corruption in 2008, but was freed on bail. He was re-arrested Jan. 26 on the U.S. extradition request.

A hearing on the extradition request has been set for March 17.