El Salvador police director, accused embezzler killed in helicopter crash

San Salvador: The head of El Salvador's police forces and a man accused of a multi-million dollar embezzlement were killed when the military helicopter in which they were travelling crashed on Sunday night, the government said.

Police director Mauricio Arriaza was escorting former cooperative manager Manuel Coto back to El Salvador.

Coto, who was is accused of embezzling $35 million, had been arrested earlier on Sunday in Honduras after attempting to flee to the United States. He was subsequently handed over to Salvadoran police.

According to the Salvadoran Armed Forces, the helicopter crashed in the Pasaquina district, in the southeast of the country near the border with Honduras. The total number of people in the helicopter when it crashed remains unknown.

President Nayib Bukele said: "What happened cannot remain a simple 'accident'. It must be investigated thoroughly and to the last consequences."

He praised Arriaza for his significant contribution to national security and his roles in various police operations.