Molina denies accepting bribes

Otto Perez Molina declared his innocence in court Friday in a customs corruption scandal that forced him to resign a day earlier as president of this Central American nation. The former leader denied prosecutors’ allegations that he was involved in a conspiracy to defraud the state by letting businesses evade import duties in exchange for millions of dollars in bribes. Prosecutors presented 77 wiretap conversations as well as documents seized in raids that detailed how the bribes were divvied up. Vice-president Roxana Baldetti is also facing charges and has been jailed. The country votes Sunday for the next president.