Guatemalan President Otto Perez presents self to police after resigning over graft

Guatemalan President Otto Perez presented himself in court on Thursday after resigning amid a corruption scandal that gutted his government and plunged Guatemala into chaos, days before a national election.

Perez, a 64-year-old retired general, quit on Wednesday evening and Congress was due to hold an emergency session to hand power to the vice president later on Thursday.

In his resignation letter to Congress, Perez said he would face the charges against him “with a clear conscience.”

“My commitment to the people of Guatemala is to submit, with all integrity, to the due process of the rule of law and refute the accusations against me,” he wrote.

Prosecutors allege Perez was involved in a customs scam dubbed “La Linea”, or the line, after a phone hotline used by importers to avoid paying customs duties in exchange for bribes.

Congress was expected to meet on Thursday to hand power to Vice President Alejandro Maldonado.

Perez was elected in late 2011 on a ticket to combat crime and corruption. He was not constitutionally eligible to run for re-election in Sunday’s presidential vote.

He has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and had vowed not to resign.

But his options narrowed on Wednesday when a judge issued a detention order against him after lawmakers voted to strip him of immunity from prosecution.

Prosecutors said the charges to be brought against Perez were illicit association, taking bribes and customs fraud.

Attorney General Thelma Aldana said on Wednesday that Perez was also being investigated for money laundering, which could lead to the freezing of his assets.