The president of Guatemala, Alejandro Giammattei, said that "they have never" verified an attempted escape of the brothers Ricardo and Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares, detained in that country.

On July 1, it transpired that the Guatemalan authorities were informed of an alleged escape plan by the Martinelli Linares brothers from the Mariscal Zavala Prison Center where they are being held.

"I can properly tell you that gossip has reached us, rumors that they intend to escape and there has not been on their part (the Martinelli Linares brothers) an attitude that shows any attempted escape, they are in jail pending their situation" Giammattei responded when he was approached about it in the Flor Mizrachi Question program that is transmitted by Telemetro.

Giammattei indicated that security was increased at the Mariscal Zavala Prison Center as a result of the information on the alleged danger of escape from the FBI.

"They called us and told us about the FBI, look there is a flight plan, we have not found a flight plan, security was increased and there has been no escape attempt by them," said the Guatemalan president.

He assured that he has not maintained contact with former Panamanian president Ricardo Martinielli.

"I saw former President Martinelli the last time when he came to my inauguration, that was the last time it was on January 14 of last year, from then on I have not spoken with him, he has not asked me for any special treatment for his children."

The Martinelli Linares brothers are being held in Guatemala for an extradition process to the United States, which is requesting them for alleged involvement in the Odebrecht bribery scheme.

The Fifth Criminal Sentencing Court of Guatemala authorized the extradition to the United States of Luis Enrique Martinelli Linares.

The judge in the Blue Apple Case, Baloisa Marquínez, has also requested the preventive detention for extradition purposes of the Martinelli Linares brothers, who are accused of alleged money laundering.