34 Odebrecht audit penalties for $ 70 million were “systematically” eliminated
Ecuadornews:
A total of 34 audit penalties issued by the National Audit Office against the consortium of Norberto Odebrecht between May 29, 2009, and February 2, 2010, totaling $ 70’640,057, are alleged to have been “systematically” exonerated by former Comptroller Carlos Pólit in exchange for the payment of $ 6 million.
The penalties originate in the execution of the San Francisco Hydroelectric Project. Back then, the National Audit Office claimed damages against the State for more than $ 70 million. This information was revealed in a hearing last Monday.
“In 2010, Carlos Pólit, in his capacity as comptroller, asked the superintendent of the Odebrecht construction company in Ecuador, José Conceição Santos, to hand over $ 6 million in exchange for fading more than $ 70 million in audit penalties,” explained Attorney General Carlos Baca during the hearing. The $ 6 million was delivered in cash in the suite number 52 of a hotel in the north of Quito. (I)