The scandal has sparked mass protests calling for Perez to resign.
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The former vice-president of Guatemala, Roxana Baldetti, has been arrested on corruption charges three months after she was forced to leave office.
Documents seized in raids “lead one to consider it highly probable that the president of the republic may have participated in the same” scheme, Attorney General Thelma Aldana said at a news conference. Guatemalan presidents are limited to a single four-year term, so Perez Molina is ineligible to run for re-election.
Baldetti has denied any wrongdoing.
The call comes just after hours after former Vice President Roxana Baldetti was arrested for her alleged involvement in a fraud network known as La Linea operating in the country’s customs agency.
Perez, whose Patriot Party is way behind in polls before a first round of voting on September 6, was at an event outside the capital and had few words for reporters as he got into his auto.
Prosecutors also said they have asked for President Otto Perez Molina’s immunity of office to be withdrawn to allow for him to be investigated in the same case. “There’s a group of political advisors who will provide the executive with a series of options following these latest developments”.
Last week, Perez narrowly avoided losing his presidential immunity from prosecution when more than half of Congress voted that he should be stripped of it to face investigations over a string of corruption scandals that have hit his government. That process could eventually lead to impeachment of the president.
Almost 30 other people have been detained, accused of taking millions of dollars from businessmen who paid bribes in order to avoid higher import duties.
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If the Supreme Court approves prosecutors’ impeachment request, Congress would still have to give its consent.
