Guatemala, October 15 (PL-RHC)-- Court B of Higher Risk in Guatemala ordered Thursday the detention of 50 businessmen and legal representatives of firms involved in the customs fraud corruption case known as La Linea.

Most of the people affected by the decision taken by Judge Miguel Angel Galvez, who presides over the court, are of Asian origin and the measure is aimed at preventing them fleeing the country.

The Special Attorney General's Office against Impunity under the Justice Ministry and the International Commission against Impunity in Guatemala (Cicig) said they have telephone conversations and altered papers as evidence against these people, including legal representatives of small and large businesses that made illegal payments to government officials in exchange for speeding up the entry of imported goods into the customs service.

Guatemalan Attorney General Thelma Aldana told journalists the number of people involved in this case of bribery and customs fraud reached 1,500 and all of them will be summoned to appear in court; she said that otherwise, they will be captured.

According to data provided by the authorities, the people above-mentioned benefited from customs service irregularities since May, 2014.

La Linea was allegedly led by ex-president Otto Perez Molina and his vice president, Roxana Baldetti.