Plaza: “it’s capitalized, the Bank complied with what the Board requested”

Leonidas Plaza

Leonidas Plaza Verduga, attorney of the main shareholder of the Territorial Bank, FrancescoZunino Anda, questioned the charges against the defendant and suspension of the financial institution. He said his client turned to family and friends to raise the funds he needed.

During a press conference held yesterday at the Convention Center of Guayaquil, Plaza said the Superintendency of Banks and Insurance (SBS) placed technicians unside the institution, since in April of 2010 the regularization process began and so “it’s curious that barely before a month of the conclusion of the regularization (…) and without having any problem during the whole 34, 35 months that lasted The process they suddenly realize that there are missing  funds (…) $ 18 million that had to be capitalized, in 10 days.”

According to Plaza, with that order “his client had to rush to get the money.” Zunino revealed that he got $ 10 million and requested an extension to pay the remaining amount. The time allowed was seven days. Given these actions,”Mr. Zunino turned to his friends, his family, people who knew him un order to gather the $ 8 million and delivered them on March 14.” With this, Plaza highlights, “he complied with what the Banking Board asked of him, the Bank’s capitalization.”

However, the Board met over the weekend and “broadcasted the resolution (…) where they begin (…) to indicate that the bank is suspended, and cannot work, it was declared intervened,  inviable  (…).”  Plaza said that now the authorities have begun seeking justification for their actions, therefore, they mentioned the suspicions of money laundering.