One week after he stepped down from office, was arrested and then jailed, former Guatemalan President Otto Pérez Molina has been directed to stand trial on corruption charges.

Pérez Molina had promised to co-operate with the investigation.

As reported in the BBC, earlier this week, the former president tried to explain to the court how thoughtless it would be to actually have done what he is accused of doing, saying, "Your honour, I am not going to risk my dignity, my work, nor all the effort I have made for Guatemala in return for $800,000."

In court the 64-year-old ex leader showed little emotion as he took in Judge Miguel Ángel Gálvez ruling. As reported in the New York Times, Pérez Molina, who has always maintained his innocence, voiced his frustration at the judge’s decision, rhetorically asking if this could happen to a recently resigned president, "what can happen to an ordinary citizen?”

The judge rejected the defense request for bail and sent Pérez Molina back to the military barracks. Prosecutors will have until December to prepare an expanded case against Pérez Molina.

The upheaval caused by the bribery scandal has, since April, led to massive protests as well as a total shake up of Pérez Molina’s administration.

Prior to Pérez Molina’s resignation and subsequent arrest, former vice president Roxana Baldetti stepped down from her office in May and was charged for her connection to the case two weeks ago.

Amid the political chaos the presidential elections were held this past Sunday.

There was a palpable amount of distrust among the voters, many of whom wore black as a sign of protest. A television comedian named Jimmy Morales, who has no political past, garnered the most votes.

As no candidate got 50 percent of the votes, there will be a runoff election on Oct. 25.