Guatemala

1975-05-10

238937186

There are reasonable grounds to suspect that Ángel Arnoldo Pineda Ávila (“Pineda”) is an involved person within the meaning of the Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021 on the basis of the following grounds: (1) Pineda is or has been involved in serious corruption, by being responsible for or engaging in serious corruption. When Secretary of International Affairs and Cooperation at the Public Ministry (Ministerio Público, MP), a foreign public official performing an executive or administrative function, he received an advantage, namely his appointment as Secretary General of the MP. On accepting the advantage, he intended to improperly perform a public function. He has done so by intentionally undermining corruption investigations into the Guatemalan political elite and pursuing meritless legal challenges against journalists, judges and prosecutors who revealed endemic corruption in Guatemala. (2) Pineda is or has been involved in serious corruption, by being responsible for the investigation or prosecution of serious corruption and intentionally failing to fulfil that responsibility. When Secretary of International Affairs and Cooperation at the MP, a foreign public official performing an executive or administrative function, he received an advantage, namely his appointment as Secretary General of the MP. On accepting the advantage, he intended to improperly perform a public function. He has done so by intentionally undermining corruption investigations into the Guatemalan political elite and pursuing meritless legal challenges against journalists, judges and prosecutors who revealed endemic corruption in Guatemala. (3) Pineda is or has used threats or intimidation to interfere in a law enforcement or judicial process in connection with serious corruption. When Secretary of International Affairs and Cooperation at the MP, a foreign public official performing an executive or administrative function, he received an advantage, namely his appointment as Secretary General of the MP. On accepting the advantage, he intended to improperly perform a public function. He has done so by intentionally undermining corruption investigations into the Guatemalan political elite and pursuing meritless legal challenges against journalists, judges and prosecutors who revealed endemic corruption in Guatemala.

The Director Disqualification Sanction was imposed on 09/04/2025.

2025-04-02

UK

The Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021

UK horizontal

Anti-Corruption

Asset freeze and making available provisions, Travel bans

• The Regulations impose financial sanctions through a targeted asset freeze on designated persons and prohibitions on making funds or economic resources available. This involves the freezing of funds and economic resources (non-monetary assets, such as property or vehicles) of designated persons and ensuring that funds and economic resources are not made available to or for the benefit of designated persons, either directly or indirectly. • The effect of the Regulations is to impose a travel ban on persons who are designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of being made subject to immigration sanctions under the Sanctions Act.

The Global Anti-Corruption Sanctions Regulations 2021 put in place sanctions measures to prevent and combat serious corruption. These regulations have replaced the Misappropriation (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2020 concerning misappropriation of State funds from any country outside the UK. Those persons who are designated under this regime are included on the UK sanctions list.

Licensing and exception provisions are contained in Part 5 of the Regulations.