Guatemala: Scuffles outside court after ex-VP Baldetti charged with corruption

Several people were injured after scuffles broke out between police and a group of journalists who were trying to film former Vice-President Roxana Baldetti leaving court after being ordered to stand trial on charges of corruption in Guatemala City, Tuesday. One journalist received a fracture to his arm and several others were wounded as a result of the clashes. Baldetti was ordered by a judge to stand trial on charges of conspiracy, customs fraud and bribery relating to allegations that she accepted $3.7 million (€3.2 million) in bribes as part of a customs scandal that has rocked the current Guatemalan government. Prosecutors allege that Baldetti and other officials accepted the bribes to help a number of businesses evade customs duties. As a result of the scandal, known as 'La Linea' (The Line), eight government members have resigned and over 30 people have been detained by police. President Otto Perez Molina has rejected any link to the scandal but the Guatemalan Supreme Court has already taken the first steps in allowing impeachment proceedings against the current leader to commence.