El Salvador arrests 10 in graft case involving ex-president
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — Police in El Salvador say they've detained 10 people connected to advertising and media companies in a corruption case in which former President Tony Saca and others are implicated.
National police Commissioner Howard Cotto says those arrested Thursday are suspected of money laundering. They include Saca's brother-in-law and a prominent publicist.
Saca has declared his innocence in the case.
He and several close associates are being prosecuted for the alleged diversion of at least $246 million in government funds. Prosecutors say some $116 million of that amount was transferred to private accounts of presidential employees and later to other accounts and businesses, some of them belonging to Saca.
The 51-year-old Saca was president from 2004. He also faces a civil prosecution for alleged illicit enrichment.
