Auditoría Abierta organizes its work into five sections. Each section addresses a different question about power in Latin America. In addition, it uses the format that best answers each question: a case file, a table of court rulings, a glossary entry, or a contract tracking report. All sections share the same methodology: primary sources, visible evidence, and the right of reply. Here we explain what you’ll find in each one.
Corruption Cases
This is the main section and the one that gives meaning to the others. Each entry is a dossier on a person who holds public office or aspires to do so—that is, presidential candidates, members of Congress, ministers, prosecutors, or businesspeople with government contracts. The file compiles all allegations against that individual, dates them, and attributes them to the source. It then classifies them into three categories: proven by an official ruling; documented but disputed; or unsubstantiated.
In addition, each file includes a section of verified key data and a table listing all the allegations. It also includes the affected individual’s response and a frequently asked questions section. That is why these are long texts, ranging from 3,000 to 5,000 words. They are designed to be consulted and cited, not just read from start to finish.
Published examples: the dossier on Roberto Arzú García-Granados, a presidential candidate in Guatemala; and the dossier on Samuel Pérez Álvarez, leader of Raíces.
Glossary and International Sanctions
Here are two types of short pieces that support the other sections.
The glossary explains, in 600 to 900 words, the terms that appear repeatedly in the case files and that almost no one defines. For example, what a preliminary hearing is, what it means when a court rejects an in limine motion, or what civil contempt is in the United States. Or what the difference is between a dismissal and an acquittal. Each entry links to the case files where that term is relevant.
The international sanctions section lists the corruption-related designations that foreign governments apply to Latin American officials. These include the State Department’s Engel List, OFAC sanctions, the Magnitsky Act, and measures imposed by the European Union and the United Kingdom. These are official and public sources, so this part of the section does not rely on the media. It’s worth remembering: a sanction is not a judicial conviction, and we make that clear in each entry.
Go to Glossary and International Sanctions
Judgments and Proceedings
This section tracks court decisions. While a case file focuses on an individual, here we focus on the judicial process. Which court ruled, on what date, with what sentence, and what appeals remain pending. The main format is a comparative table, such as the list of former Latin American presidents convicted of corruption. That table distinguishes between sentences currently being served, first-instance convictions, pretrial detention, sanctions imposed without trial, and annulled proceedings.
These are living documents. When a constitutional court overturns a conviction or an appellate court upholds a sentence, we update the table. We also record the date of the update. That is why each entry in this section displays its most recent verification date.
Go to Judgments and Proceedings
Campaign Financing
Campaign money is the source of a large portion of the region’s corruption cases. Odebrecht, undeclared contributions, election fines, hidden donors. In this section, we track that money country by country and election by election. What each party reported, what the electoral authority detected, what fines were imposed, and which ones were paid.
This section gains prominence with each election cycle. For example, for Guatemala’s 2027 general elections, we will publish profiles by party and by candidate. These will include the amounts reported to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and the accumulated penalties. Additionally, the data here is cross-referenced with personal records. If a candidate has fines for early campaigning, their campaign finance profile and personal record are linked to one another.
Contracts and Assets
This is the section where the subject ceases to be a person and becomes a document. For example, a public contract, a concession, an emergency purchase, or an affidavit of assets. In the Contracts section, we examine bids and awards with red flags. For example, cost overruns, newly created suppliers, or contract terminations due to objections from the Comptroller’s Office. In the “Assets” section, we compare what an official declares with what is recorded in commercial and property registries.
This is the section that requires the most rigorous verification, because a misread figure could falsely accuse someone. That is why it progresses more slowly than the others. Each report cites the original document—with a link or a copy—before drawing any conclusions. When the records do not allow for a conclusion, we state so.
How They Relate to Each Other
The five sections form a system. A person’s file links to the court rulings that affect them and to the glossary terms the reader needs. It also links to the sanctions imposed on that person and to the contracts or statements involving them. Conversely, each short entry directs the reader back to the complete file. Thus, anyone arriving with a specific question can delve as deeply as they wish without leaving the site.
If you’re looking for a person, start with “Corruption Cases.” If you want to understand a term or a sanction, go to “Glossary.” To find out what the courts have ruled, go to “Rulings and Proceedings.” And if you’re interested in the money, go to “Financing” or “Contracts and Assets.”
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why isn’t there a section for each country?
Because a case belongs to a single section, and the countries cut across them. A Guatemalan contract and a Peruvian case share a methodology, not a geography. Countries are indicated with tags within each entry. This way, you can filter by Guatemala, Peru, or Ecuador without changing the site’s structure.
How often are updates posted in each section?
Public Corruption publishes one or two cases per month. Glossary and Sanctions is updated with short entries between cases. Judgments and Proceedings is updated whenever a court changes the status of a case. Campaign Financing is updated with each election cycle. “Contracts and Assets” is the slowest-moving section, due to the level of verification it requires.
What is the difference between a file and an entry?
A “file” is the long-form entry in the “Corruption Cases” section: it compiles all available information about a person. A “fact sheet” is the short-form entry in the other sections—a term, a sanction, a ruling, or a contract. It is explained in fewer than 1,000 words and links to related files.
Can I suggest a case or a correction?
Yes. Write to us via the contact page. We review each suggestion using the same method we apply to our published content. Corrections are noted at the bottom of the article along with their date.