Former President of El Salvador Wanted for Corruption Finally Appears

After several months on the run, the former Salvadoran president Francisco Flores appeared in the capital San Salvador on Friday, voluntarily appearing in court to answer charges of corruption.

Flores, who served as President of El Salvador between 1999 and 2004, is accused of taking at least US$10 million donated by Taiwan to the Central American country in 2001, when it was hit by two earthquakes. 

Flores had claimed to have been a victim of political persecution, but in May this year, a Salvadoran judge issued an arrest warrant for charges of corruption, illegal enrichment and disobeying a summons to appear.

Although their lawyers deny the allegations, Flores's whereabouts was a mystery, and authorities suspected he had left the country, probably bound for Panama.

"He presented himself voluntarily to the courts," judiciary spokesman Ulises Marinero said. "Now we will read the charges against him, explain why he will be held in prison, and explain what crimes he's accused of."