In Guatemala, ex-President Otto Pérez Molina has been jailed on charges of corruption only hours after he bowed to massive popular protest and resigned. In court Thursday, prosecutors played wiretapped conversations they say show Pérez Molina was part of customs fraud ring that pilfered tens of millions of dollars from the state treasury. Vice President Alejandro Maldonado has been sworn in as interim president until January, when Pérez Molina’s term was set to end. Maldonado had been vice president since only May, after he assumed the post when the former vice president, Roxana Baldetti, resigned over allegations of corruption. Like Pérez Molina, she too is now in jail awaiting trial. Meanwhile, presidential elections are scheduled for Sunday. Guatemalan Judge Miguel Angel Galvez announced the imprisonment Thursday.

Judge Miguel Angel Galvez: “This court considers it wise to order provisional prison for Mr. Otto Fernando Pérez Molina. This is effective of this judicial order and is not preventive detention but provisional custody ahead of trial.”