Puerto Rico governor surrenders on corruption charges
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AFP) — The governor of Puerto Rico, Anibal Acevedo Vila, was formally charged and released Friday on 19 corruption charges stemming from a campaign finance scandal, court sources said.
If convicted, the governor faces more than 10 years in prison and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines.
Acevedo Vila, 48, was released without posting bail. He was not asked to surrender his passport but will be required to communicate with federal officials every month and give notice before leaving Puerto Rico.
The governor arrived at the courthouse to find the building surrounded by a crowd of supporters waving flags and proclaiming his innocence.
Acevedo Vila was charged with conspiracy, false statements and violations of various campaign finance laws, according to a grand jury indictment issued Monday and unsealed Thursday.
The charges stem from irregularities during his campaign to represent Puerto Rico as an observer in the US Congress in 1999, and when he ran for governor in 2004.
Twelve associates face similar charges.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation said the defendants conspired to defraud the government "by having Puerto Rico businessmen make illegal and unreported contributions to pay off large and unreported debts" from Acevedo Vila's campaigns.
"Acevedo Vila and legal advisor, defendant Inclan Bird, solicited, accepted, and then reimbursed illegal conduit contributions from Acevedo Vila's family members and staff," the FBI said in a statement.
Conduit contributions are illegal campaign contributions made by one person in the name of another.
Puerto Rico is a semi-autonomous US possession in the Caribbean sea. The governor is the island's maximum executive authority.
The leader of the opposition New Progressive Party (PNP), which advocates statehood for Puerto Rico, called on Acevedo Vila to resign. The PNP has a majority in the island's legislature.
"We are giving the governor an opportunity to resign, to avoid an impeachment process," said PNP leader Luis Fortuno.
Acevedo Vila however said he will remain in office.
Puerto Rico has no voting representative in the US Congress, even though US law is imposed on the island and Puerto Ricans are US citizens.
