Balda Case: More intelligence agents are summoned to testify

Ecuadortimes:

A former Senain agent was subjected to the process of effective cooperation, around the case for alleged kidnapping against ex-legislator Fernando Balda. The State Prosecutor General’s Office continues receiving reports about the case of a presumed kidnapping against the ex-member of the Patriotic Society Party (PSP), Fernando Balda.

For this May 9 is scheduled the declaration of Diego Vallejo, ex-adviser to José Serrano, former Minister of the Interior, who is in the United States and will give his version before the Prosecutor’s Office from the Consulate of Miami, Florida.

According to the provision, Vallejo must go to the Consulate and give his testimony at 10:30 (Ecuador time). In order for this version to be carried out, coordination was made with the Office of International Affairs of the Office of the Prosecutor. In that line, on Thursday, May 10, the presence of the journalist Herbin Hoyos is expected, who will arrive from Bogotá (Colombia) to give his testimony as a technical witness.

Hoyos was one of the first journalists in that country to publish reports on the case. After him, Carolina Andrade Quevedo, ex-servant of the National Intelligence Secretariat (Senain), is expected to arrive. This process is carried out after the State Attorney General’s Office filed charges against three intelligence agents for the kidnapping of Balda.

The former legislator filed a complaint that in 2012 he was a victim of kidnapping in Bogotá, as far as he had traveled because of the persecution in the government of Rafael Correa. In the case, three members of the National Police were indicted, under the figure of conspiracy and kidnapping.

The detainees were identified as Diana F., Luis Raúl Ch. And Jorge E., and were subjected to arraignment hearings. Last Monday, Luis Raúl Ch.F., formerly of the Senain, pleaded guilty to the fact and accepted the process of effective cooperation.

The accused went to the Attorney General’s Office, where he gave his version that lasted more than five hours. His presence was fulfilled before the prosecutor of Pichincha, Jimena Mena, assigned to the Unit of Prior Inquiries and Fiscal Instructions. For effective cooperation, Luis Raúl Ch. Would have delivered several audios, including one with a duration of 60 minutes where he is heard talking to Diana F. and Pablo R., extitular of the National Directorate of Intelligence (DGI), during the Correa regime.

The ex-legislator said that in these recordings the plans for the kidnapping are heard, including the actions to cover up the act. He added that Pablo R. talks about how to cover up the kidnapping and it would even have been mentioned that -by Correa’s disposition- a meeting was held with Fernando Alvarado, former Secretary of Communication, “to help them organize a media plan to cover up and make people believe that was a false news. ” Raúl Ch.F. he would also have received instructions from Fausto T., ex police commander.

On Monday, the former National Secretary of Intelligence Pablo R. Q. was also called, but he did not attend. In their place they arrived their legal representatives, who indicated the judicial box and indicated that their defendant is outside the country fulfilling personal diligences. Balda said that the former secretary is not in the country long ago and estimated that he will not present. “It is probable that he has escaped from the country, but that will be determined by the authorities.” The former commander was also going to give his testimony.

That is not the only process in which the former commander is mentioned. He is also prosecuted for organized crime in the case of “Police Passes”. On Monday, the Court of Cassation of the National Court of Justice accepted the appeal of the Prosecutor’s Office to the judgment of the Provincial Court and asked that Faustus T. be judged as the immediate author. The Court modified the sentence from 28 months in prison to 13 years and 4 months.

Balda announced that preventive detention and precautionary measures will be requested against Fausto T., Pablo R.Q. and the ex-president Rafael Correa. “If the subordinates are imprisoned, legal equity must also be applied for the high-ranking officers who gave the orders and prevent their escape.” Diario EL TELÉGRAFO requested the version of Patricio Abad, lawyer of the ex-commander, but did not give statements. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/judicial/12/fiscalia-balda-inteligencia