OFAC Sanctions Former Guatemalan Official for Corruption

The Office of Foreign Assets Control this week sanctioned Alberto Pimentel Mata, Guatemala’s former energy and mining minister, for exploiting the country’s mining sector through “widespread bribery schemes” involving government contracts and mining licenses. OFAC said he reportedly accepted “large” monthly payments in exchange for certain permits, took bribes in exchange for accepting contracting bids, retaliated against companies that didn’t bribe him and more. The agency said Pimentel resigned from the government in July last year.