Juan Francisco Sandoval

Cases
Location of case in SG report
2020-058-901
Relevant SG report
Year of the report
2020
Country Geolocation

Latitude: 15.783471

Longitude: -90.2307589999999

Country Geolocation (linked Cases)
Guatemala
From Region
Type of record
Named individual
Gender
Male
Was the victim a foreign national?
No
Was the victim a minor?
No
Individual's/organization's activity

Chief Prosecutor (of Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity?)

Type of rights defended
  • Accountability & impunity
Was the victim a civil servant or member of the security forces or of the judiciary?
Yes
Reported trigger of reprisal

cooperating with CICIG

Engagement with UN body
  • CICIG
Dates of engagement
Unclear
Type of attempted engagement
  • Unclear
Dates of mentioned reprisals
Unclear
Reprisal information

it was reported to OHCHR that intimidation and reprisals against public prosecutors cooperating with CICIG, in particular the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity, and Chief Prosecutor Mr. Juan Francisco Sandoval, have increased. Two of these prosecutors resigned during the reporting period, following a reported increase in threats and intimidation received, related to their work in high-profile corruption cases in which the CICIG intervened.

Types of reprisals suffered
  • Threats/Intimidations (incl. "fear of reprisal")
Alleged/likely perpetrators
Unclear
Was the reprisal based on new legislation?
No
Does the report make general comment about country’s environment for engagement with UN?
No
Further case development

On 8 April 2020, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights issued urgent protection measures in favour of three prosecutors of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity. 44

Is the country cited for a "pattern of reprisal" in the context of this case?
No
Is a pattern of reprisals mentioned otherwise in the context of this case?
No
Does the report cite "self-censorship" as an issue in the context of this case?
No
How many times has the case been followed up in subsequent SG reports?
5
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 0
2021
Follow up information provided in SG report 0
  1. Between May and September 2020, at least 20 criminal cases and disciplinary complaints were brought against the Head of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity, Mr. Juan Francisco Sandoval, allegedly as reprisal for his work in high-profile cases, including cases investigated with the technical assistance of the CICIG.
Followup Trends 0
Deterioration/further reprisals
Did the government respond? 0
Yes
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 1
2022
Follow up information provided in SG report 1
  1. OHCHR continued to document the targeting of Mr. Juan Francisco Sandoval, Chief Prosecutor of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity (FECI). On 23 July 2021, the General Attorney dismissed Mr. Sandoval reportedly without following the disciplinary proceeding established by law. Mr. Sandoval left the country the same day, alleging fear for his safety. Reportedly, undue criminal procedures against him continue.
Followup Trends 1
Deterioration/further reprisals
Did the government respond? 1
No
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 2
2023
Follow up information provided in SG report 2

  1. The case of Mr. Juan Francisco Sandoval, a former chief prosecutor of FECI, has been included since 2020 in reports of the Secretary-General on allegations of reprisals for his work in high-profile cases, including cases investigated with the technical assistance of the CICIG. According to information received by OHCHR, on 12 September and 19 October 2022, two arrest warrants and an extradition request were issued against Mr. Sandoval on charges of influence peddling, obstruction and denial of justice. A second arrest warrant was issued against Ms. Leily Santizo on 19 October 2022 for allegedly leaking confidential information to Mr. Sandoval.

  2. The Government also shared information on four criminal cases against FECI former chief prosecutor Mr. Francisco Sandoval Afaro and other individuals, noting that one of the criminal cases had been dismissed and an opposition hearing had been scheduled. It also provided updated information on over 20 cases against Ms. Erika Aifán, 13 of which were under investigation (one with no criminal charges), four had been closed, and four had been dismissed and it shared a list of preliminary proceedings filed against Mr. Miguel Ángel Gálvez. The Government also confirmed the level of risk faced by Judge Mr. Pablo Xitumul and that personalized security measures had been recommended and noted it had no updated information on Ms. Claudia Maselli.

Followup Trends 2
Deterioration/further reprisals
Did the government respond? 2
Yes
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 3
2024
Follow up information provided in SG report 3
  1. On 29 August 2023, arrest orders were issued against Mr. Juan Francisco Sandoval Alfaro and Ms. Eva Siomara Sosa Pérez for abuse of authority. The case is allegedly linked to their investigations at the General Attorney’s Office against Impunity, in collaboration with CICIG, of alleged influence peddling by a Supreme Court justice (GTM 5/2023 and see also Annex I).
  2. On 4 July 2024, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report recognising the important work done by justice officials in the fight againstcorruption and impunity in the country and expressing concern about the cases included in the report. The Government provided a number of factual corrections regarding ongoing legal proceedings concerning the cases described above that were incorporated in the report.
Followup Trends 3
No substantive information provided by SG report
Did the government respond? 3
Yes
In which SG report was this case followed up on? 4
2025
Follow up information provided in SG report 4
  1. The case of Mr. Juan Francisco Sandoval, former Chief of the FECI, was included in the 2020 and 2024 reports of the Secretary-General78, on allegations of intimidation and reprisals for cooperating with the CICIG.
  2. According to information received by OHCHR, one extradition request and seven arrest warrants have been issued against Mr. Sandoval, the last on 18 March 2025. Reportedly, on 13 March 2025, the Public Prosecutor’s Office added new charges that had not been originally considered. On 18 July 2025, the Government responded to the note verbale sent in connection to the present report expressing concern about ongoing practices within the justice system that violate the rights of human rights defenders, including justice officials, who have played a significant role in the fight against corruption and impunity in Guatemala. The Government acknowledged that the criminalization of human rights defenders remains a serious issue and reiterated its strong commitment to creating the necessary conditions for all defenders to carry out their work without coercion, intimidation, or reprisals.
Followup Trends 4
Deterioration/further reprisals
Did the government respond? 4
Yes