A Year in Prison for Rafael Correa’s Former Collaborator

Vinicio Alvarado and Monica Chuji

To one year imprisonment and the payment of a $ 100 000 fine was sentenced yesterday the Government former collaborator, Monica Chuji, who was responsible for the crime of libel uttered on Feb. 6 against the secretary of the Public Administration, Vinicio Alvarado.

The decision taken by the judge of Criminal Guarantees 14 º, Wilson Lozada, alleges that during the research process enough evidence of the offense committed by Chuji was found when she called Alvarado “a new rich”.

In addition to the imprisonment and fine, she shall pay a thousand dollars as payment of legal costs to defend Alvarado.

The process began after Chuji, in an interview published on 6 February in El Comercio, ensured that Vinicio Alvarado, one of the officials closest to President Rafael Correa, is “one of the new rich of the government.”

“It is only necessary for the president to give an opinion, to become upset, to go to a court room, which is also a private action, to go and show off so the judge has to please the whims of the power,” said Chuji to Ecuavisa TV.

(BG)