Guatemala: The seven police officers linked to the case of former prosecutor Solorzano Foppa will testify on October 26 for the alleged planting of a carbine

Seven PNC agents appear for their first judicial statement over the alleged planting of a weapon on two detainees. (Diario de Centroamérica) Seven PNC officers will testify on Monday, October 26, over the alleged planting of a carbine among the belongings of brothers Rigoberto and Daniel Zaqueo Choc Toz, detained after the murder of former prosecutor Juan Francisco Solórzano Foppa. The hearing, scheduled for 9:00 a.m. at the On-Call Court of the Torre de Tribunales, will determine whether the agents remain in pretrial detention or face the proceedings while free. The seven officers have been held in the holding cells of the Torre de Tribunales since their capture, which took place on Friday, October 23, during proceedings driven by the Public Prosecutor's Office. A judge informed them of the reasons for their detention the following day, in a closed-door hearing. The detainees were identified as Erick S., Luis R., Juan R., Julio B., Manuel C., Uber C., and Bryan D. Among them are a commissioner, an inspector, a third officer, and four agents assigned to Police Station 13. Seven PNC agents appear for their first judicial statement over the alleged planting of a weapon on two detainees. (Diario de Centroamérica) The officers face charges of abuse of authority, simulation of a crime, obstruction of criminal prosecution, and illegal transport or transfer of firearms. The Third Criminal First Instance Court of the department of Guatemala issued the seven arrest warrants. Carlos Cuéllar, defense attorney for one of the accused, confirmed that the agents are already aware of the charges. He explained that the defense requested that they not be sent to a public prison because their status as police officers could put their lives at risk. The on-call judge authorized that they remain in the holding cells while the process advances. The first judicial statement must determine the measures they will face during the investigation. The investigations originated on October 17, when Solórzano Foppa and judoka Gustavo Adolfo Aguilar Gamarro died in an armed attack at Campo Marte, in zone 5 of the capital. Minutes later, agents from Police Station 13 reported the detention of the Choc Toz brothers, aged 30 and 18, and the seizure of a firearm. The Public Prosecutor's Office maintains that the carbine was irregularly planted among the detainees' belongings; they were captured in zone 16 as suspects in the double homicide. Suspicions of scene manipulation led to raids, inspections, searches, and the seizure of evidence in 11 properties in different departments. The proceedings reached Police Station 13 and the headquarters of the Central District of the National Civil Police. Prosecutors also inspected patrol car GUA 13190 on October 22, which allegedly transported the brothers after their capture, including the interior, exterior, and engine bay. Seven PNC agents appear for their first judicial statement over the alleged planting of a weapon on two detainees. (Diario de Centroamérica) The Choc Toz brothers were taken to a police substation even though protocol established that they should be transferred directly to the Torre de Tribunals. Esvin Jacinto, deputy general director of Operations of the PNC, acknowledged irregularities during a summons before legislators on October 21. The official stated that the route changes and transfers between patrol cars were not communicated to superiors. "I was not aware of any of that movement because they don't inform me. When information does not reach us directly, at that moment, there is a breakdown in the chain of command," Jacinto declared before the legislators, according to Infobae. A judge ruled in favor of Rigoberto and Daniel Zaqueo Choc Toz with a finding of lack of merit and ordered their release, considering the evidence linking them to the attack insufficient. The defense questioned the origin of the carbine and stated that both were delivering food when they were detained. The PNC had initially indicated that the weapon was registered to a private individual and had no theft report. The Public Prosecutor's Office keeps open the investigation into the possible alteration of evidence and the circumstances of the two deaths. "No position, uniform, or hierarchical rank can serve as a shield against criminal investigation," stated the Public Prosecutor's Office, warning that modifying evidence, covering up responsibilities, or obstructing the clarification of the facts may lead to new criminal actions. The Ministry of the Interior announced on October 20 a review of the structure, leadership, and functioning of the police force. The general director of the PNC, David Custodio Boteo, confirmed that several officers and the head of Police Station 13 were removed from their posts, while the Inspector General's Office initiated internal administrative investigations.