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Alexis Mera says that Glas negotiated with Odebrecht and Correa was informed of this
Posted On 18 Aug 2017
Ecuadornews:
Former Legal Secretary to the Presidency Alexis Mera gave his free and voluntary version on the Odebrecht case last July 31 in the Attorney General’s Office, in which he stated that the negotiations with Odebrecht were carried out by Vice President Jorge Glas, and also assured that former President Rafael Correa was informed of the terms of the agreement.
During his appearance, Mera named those who were in charge of the Strategic Sectors from 2007 to 2017 and also referred to his functions as a legal secretary.
Regarding whether he has accounts abroad, the former government official said that he owns a single account he opened more than 20 years ago at the Wells Fargo Bank in the United States.
These are the 13 questions and answers from the interrogation:
Diana Salazar: What are the specific dates on which you served as a Legal Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic?
Alexis Mera: From the 15th of January of 2007 until the 24th of May of 2017.
DS: During this period, what were your duties as a Legal Secretary of the Presidency of the Republic?
AM: To primarily participate in the elaboration of executive orders prior to the signature of the President; to prepare bills; to submit reports on the laws approved by the Legislature, and all types of legal advice required by the President.
DS: In the context of legal advice required by the President, did you participate in the agreements made by Ecuador with the Odebrecht company to return to the country?
AM: Not directly, since those negotiations were made by then Minister Jorge Glas. But at some point, the President and I were informed of the terms of the agreement.
DS: Can you tell us whether, in your capacity as Legal Secretary of the Presidency, you knew about the process to follow for the signing of a contract between a private company and the State?
AM: Due to my duties I could not intervene in such processes. But as a lawyer knowledgeable of administrative law that the decision must be taken by the highest authority of the institution after the respective pre-contractual process. These decisions were not consulted with the Presidency or with the Legal Secretariat.
DS: What was the scope of the functions of the Ministry of Strategic Sectors?
AM: The aforementioned ministry was in charge of coordinating all major state works related to electricity, oil, telecommunications, irrigation and channeling of rivers.
DS: Who was in charge of these strategic sectors between 2007 and 2017?
AM: Notwithstanding the respective executive orders, the main person in charge of this sector was Jorge Glas, he was later succeeded by Rafael Poveda Bonilla and finally Augusto Espín.
DS: Indicate if you know Carlos Alberto Pareja Cordero.
AM: He’s a well known Guayaquil lawyer, but I’m not close to him. What I do remember is that we found out he was the director of corrupt operations in Petroecuador and I personally denounced him before the media. Neither I nor my professional office has had any relationship with him.
DS: What is the name of your professional office?
AM: Romero-Menéndez Abogados (a law firm).
DS: Do you know the DRAMISTON company?
AM: No.
DS: Have you had any kind of business relationship with Mr. Ernesto Estrada Santistevan?
AM: I’ve never been his lawyer, I do not know him personally.
DS: Indicate if you are a partner, shareholder, legal representative or final beneficiary of companies outside the country.
AM: No.
DS: Do you possess accounts abroad?
AM: I have the accounts that are on my statement of capital assets, I have a single account I opened over twenty years ago at Wells Fargo in the United States, maintaining an average amount of nine thousand dollars and a term deposit of about one hundred thousand dollars, opened before 2007.
DS: Was your law firm ever related to the Panama Papers?
AM: Not to my knowledge. (I)
