They are looking for revenge because I did not let them put an inmate in this place...whom they wanted to assassinate

Prensa Libre

Guatemalan authorities, with the help of the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG) arrested, Byron Lima Oliva, an army captain serving time for the murder of Bishop Juan Gerardi, and Edgar Camargo, director of the Guatemalan Penitentiary System. Camargo was arrested on charges of conspiracy, bribery and conspiracy to launder money. Twelve other individuals were also implicated in the organized crime racket, although it is not clear if they were all arrested.

Lima, on the other hand, is the big catch.

Prosecutors said Wednesday that Byron Lima Oliva took money from other inmates in return for favors such as prohibited cellphones and appliances, as well as special food and conjugal visits.

"Lima represents for many of the inmates the true authority, and so they turn to him to seek transfers, favors and rights. Lima Oliva exerts undoubtable influence in the penitentiary system," Ivan Velasquez, head of the U.N. International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala told reporters.

CICIG's Ivan Velasquez, Attorney General Thelma Aldana and Interior Secretary Mauricio Lopez Bonilla announced that the investigation was launched last year. If you remember, Lima was apprehended last February while going to the dentist. He seemed to have been able to come and go from the prison whenever he desired. Perhaps, he was traveling in his Porsche, Jaguar or armored Land Rover to one of the many properties he acquired while in prison? Maybe even his beach property which Lima says that Lopez Bonilla has visited.

How did Lima respond to the charges?

Reached by phone, Lima denied the allegations and said he is the target of a vendetta by government officials because he prevented extortion and other crimes in the prison.

"They are looking for revenge because I did not let them put an inmate in this place ... whom they wanted to assassinate," Lima told The Associated Press.

The possible fallout?

Lima, 44, has boasted in the past of having a friendship with current President Otto Perez Molina, also a former soldier, and says he had campaign T-shirts printed for the 2011 election. On Wednesday, he said he also provided the campaign with money from businessmen, delivered through Lopez Bonilla.

The president's office declined to comment Wednesday.

When Lima was taken into custody last February, he and his entourage were traveling in vehicles used by the Patriotic Party during their 2011 campaign.

If Byron Lima built this empire over the last fifteen years, as has been alleged, there are hundreds of people, perhaps more, complicit in this single case.

(Yahoo, Fox News Latino, ABC News, The Globe and Mail / AP)