Patricia Ochoa de Gabela: “Weapons seller handed over forged report”

Ecuadornews:

Juan Cortez, representative of HAL in Ecuador, provided in 2008 to journalist Christian Zurita a report that does not appear in the archives of the FAE. Patricia Ochoa, widow of General Jorge Gabela, explains about the allegedly forged document that the company Sumil (representative of HAL in Ecuador) gave to a means of communication to supposedly benefit from the contract of the Dhruv helicopters. This delivery occurred before the last adjudication process was abandoned.

Does the hypothesis hold that the motive for the murder was the purchase of the Dhruv?

Definitely. I’m sure.

What participation did Alonso Espinoza, former Air Operations Commander, have in this process?

It became clear that he, in one way or another, participated, even giving orders, according to the testimonies, to make a report that they gave as valid but not recorded in the archives of the Ecuadorian Air Force (FAE).

That document was made by the captain (Gustavo) Gavilanes and addressed to General Espinoza. That forged report was delivered by a gun dealer to the journalist Christian Zurita to discredit my husband, so that he would leave office, but General Jorge Gabela voluntarily requested his availability.

Why did he ask for availability to the position just at that moment?

Days after this report appeared, on April 2, 2008, my husband requested an appointment with the then President Rafael Correa and told him that he had given the pass to General Espinoza, to which the President replied that he would not give it to him until decide On April 9, 2008, Wellington Sandoval, at that time Minister of Defense, approached him and told him that the President was telling him to leave Espinoza there. That is why my husband asked for the availability of his position, which was accepted by President Correa.

When talking about gun dealers who delivered the forged report to the journalist, does it refer to the Heller family?

I refer to the company Sumil (representatives of HAL in Ecuador) and I understand that the Heller family and Mr. (Silvio) Heller had 60% of the shares and I believe that (Juan) Cortez (representative of HAL) and his wife had 20% of the shares.

What interest did Espinoza have in awarding the contract to the Sumil company?

He must answer what interest he had. I have it clear.

Was the purchase of the Dhruv helicopters just a case?

At one point, the same general (Carlos) Morales explained that he had bought $ 1 billion in weapons.

It is so simple to know in such a large amount of money, how much was there of bribes?

Simple.

That award went to Sumil?

I have no idea.

Why did vendors work with military wives in foundations?

On one occasion, Mr. Cortez’s wife approached Captain Dinora Tapia, of FAESA, when my husband was a commander and told him that he wanted to make a contribution to the foundation. Tapia told me he was a gun dealer. I told Dinora that it did not seem right to me.

Is the truth about eight years later?

I have faith that the truth that the family always sought is near. First they killed our good name and that wants to recover the family. We also want justice with what is investigated. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/judicial/12/gabela-informe-forjado-caso-entrevista