Flores corruption case assigned to new judge

El Salvador's Supreme Court made public today that it had ordered the corruption case against former president Francisco Flores transferred to a new judge.  Twelve of the Court's 15 justices agreed that the Flores matter should be removed from the court of Judge Levis Italmir Orellana.   The Court also sanctioned Orellana for failing to respond to a request from the country's Human Rights Ombudsman (PDDH) for an explanation of why Flores was allowed house arrest after being a fugitive from justice for several months before turning himself in.

This is a positive step for El Salvador, with the Supreme Court taking a step both against corruption and incompetence.

Ex-president Francisco Flores has been arrested and charged with corruption with respect to the handling of a $15 million donation from the government of Taiwan in 2001.