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Comptroller found criminal evidence in SECOM contracts trough “sabatinas”
Posted On 07 Feb 2018
Ecuadornews:
The Office of the Comptroller General has sent to the Prosecutor’s Office a report with indications of criminal responsibility against several officials of the National Secretariat of Communication (Secom) for alleged irregularities in the hiring of suppliers and services for the realization of the so-called citizen links or “sabatinas”
These weekly spaces were used by former President Rafael Correa to criticize and disqualify his opponents, as well as to broadcast propaganda about his government. The Comptroller’s report covers contracts from June 2013 to May 2017. Sources of the Comptroller’s Office, quoted by the official newspaper El Telégrafo, have informed that the details of the report are still reserved.
The Office of the Prosecutor will have to initiate an ex officio investigation against those who participated in the contracts for “sabatinas”The control body also notified Superintendent of Communications (Supercom), Carlos Ochoa, on Monday, with the request of the control agency to dismiss him, as the deadlines for submitting evidence of his defense were concluded. In addition, he was informed of a $ 7,720 fine.
The auditors noted that the payment of bonuses and the delivery of a vehicle by Gamavisión (seized channel, held by the State) to Ochoa, when he was the news director of that means of communication, was not justified.
In his Twitter account, Carlos Ochoa said on Tuesday that all administrative resolutions are judicially challenged. The patrimonies of the brothers Vinicio and Fernando Alvarado, who directed the communication apparatus in the government of Rafael Correa, are also being audited by the Comptroller.
Former President Rafael Correa has reacted on Twitter. “Comptroller’s report with ‘criminal’ responsibilities against the guys who organized the “sabatinas”. The message is clear: do not mess with the corrupt press, they are in power. ” “Links were already audited from 2010 to 2015. They do it again and require auditors to put criminal responsibilities. What do the Human Rights say? And the Assembly? Everyone knows that Celi is the instrument of persecution of this Government. ” (I)
