APMT to appeal nullification of Quetzal concession
The Courts of Claims in Guatemala has declared null and void the concession contract held by APM Terminals for the Quetzal Container Terminal, Terminal de Contenedores Quetzal (TCQ).
The concession, which was awarded by Quetzal Port Company (EPQ), was challenged by the Attorney General 18 months ago.
In April 2016, the Public Ministry and the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala, accused the owner of Barcelona Container Terminal (TCB) of having offered bribes to the president Otto Pérez Molina and to his vice president Roxana Baldetti as a means of securing the TCQ concession.
APM Terminals subsequently acquired the TCB Group and, along with it, the TCQ concession, although denies that it had anything to do with the bribery allegations. After various threats to withdraw its concession, everything appeared to have been sorted out, with APMT having recently relaunched the terminal, in which it says $180m investment has been made.
The company says that, despite the latest ruling, TCQ continues to operate as normal. Now, a new phase of the legal process begins, which could involve at least two higher courts where this decision can be appealed. During this appeal phase, the lower court’s verdict is suspended.
“We are still confident in a favourable outcome for the terminal, once the process is completed,” said the company.
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