Release of ex-Guatemalan president rejected

Guatemala City: A Guatemalan court has rejected the release of former president Otto Perez Molina, presently in custody for his alleged involvement in a corruption scandal, the media reported on Thursday.

Molina's lawyer, Cesar Calderon, said the appeals chamber turned down the request to revoke the order of detention against his client, EFE news reported.

According to Calderon, the court said given his position as the former president could hamper the investigation against him.

Molina has been at the Matamoros military prison in the Guatemalan capital since September 3 when he stepped down as president.

Molina has been accused by Guatemalan Attorney General's Office of heading the customs corruption network La Linea, together with former vice president Roxana Baldetti, who is also in jail.

Both Molina and Baldetti, who resigned on May 8, are waiting for the public ministry to conclude its investigation to find out if they will be sent to a public trial or not.