Guatemala judge orders arrest of presidential adviser

GUATEMALA CITY – A judge in Guatemala has ordered the arrest of Edgar Justino Ovalle, a lawmaker and adviser to President Jimmy Morales.

Attorney General’s office spokeswoman Julia Barreda said Friday that Ovalle is sought for suspected crimes during the nation’s 1960-1996 civil war when he was a military officer.

Now a member of Congress, he had immunity from prosecution but the Supreme Court lifted that protection earlier this week.

He is suspected of murder, forced disappearance and crimes against humanity in connection with the kidnapping of multiple people in 1983 and 1984, when he was second in command of a military zone in Coban, north of Guatemala City.

The victims were later killed and buried in clandestine graves on a military base.