Diego Ordóñez, Secretary of Security, announced that this is only the first block of judges denounced. He will also request a summary from the Judiciary.
Diego Ordóñez, Secretary of Public Security, filed a complaint against allegedly corrupt judges at the Prosecutor’s Office on February 8, 2023, in Quito.
As President Guillermo Lasso announced the day before, on the morning of February 8, 2023, Ordóñez went to the headquarters of the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) to denounce a group of judges who have issued sentences that for the Executive they are illegal.
Through a national chain, Lasso appointed the following magistrates:
- Ángel Lindao Vera, multi-competent judge of La Concordia.
- Juan Carlos Terán Moreno, from Guayaquil.
- Mary Alexandra Quintero Prado, from Manta.
- José Luis Alarcón Bowen, from Manta.
- Emerson Geovanny Curipallo Ulloa, from Santo Domingo.
Ordóñez explained that these five judges are part of the complaint that he presented. But he clarified that they are not the only ones, although he did not specify names or how many others are. In addition, he clarified that this is only the first block of magistrates denounced.
The official indicated that the complaint does not indicate the alleged crime committed by the judges. Rather, only the facts are presented, that is, the questioned sentences in which the names of these magistrates are repeated.
The Government hopes that the Prosecutor’s Office will open a preliminary investigation and determine what crime these judicial servants committed.
Also, on the afternoon of February 8, 2023, Ordóñez will go to the Judicial Council (CJ). In that entity he will present a complaint so that administrative proceedings can be initiated against these judges.
On the possibility that the judges have acted under threats from criminal groups in the reported cases, Ordóñez said that this will have to be proven procedurally.
Finally, Diego Ordóñez confirmed that within the list of judges denounced are those who have ruled in favor of correísmo political leaders for their early release.
Almost simultaneously with the filing of the complaint, the Prosecutor’s Office issued a statement informing that it has issued at least 20 complaints against judicial officials before the Council of the Judiciary. And that 43 previous investigations have been opened for alleged acts of corruption.
