Police raids the headquarters of the AVANZA party. Ramiro Gonzalez flees. His wife is detained

The Office of the Prosecutor has raided the headquarters of the AVANZA party this morning.

Prosecutors of the Transparency and Anti-Corruption Unit have carried out four raids in places related to the activities of former Minister Ramiro González and his wife, Carmen Gaybor, detained for investigations as the alleged perpetrator of the crime of illegal enrichment.

The police are looking for Ramiro González, confirmed Attorney General Carlos Baca Mancheno. The operation was led by prosecutor Claudia Romero, in charge of the case against the former IESS official and Avanza’s vice-president, María Sol Larrea, and her husband Marcelo E.

“Apparently Mr. González was alerted of the operation,” Interior Minister César Navas said today during a press conference.

The investigations conducted by the Attorney General’s Office show that, through reports submitted by the Internal Revenue Service, Ramiro González would have received accreditations for USD 2 217 399 between 2012 to 2016 while his declarations of assets only state USD 391 168.

González held the position of Minister of Industry and Competitiveness, “therefore it is suspected that he would have incurred in the alleged offense of tax fraud.”

The interior minister affirmed that justice would act ” with a firm hand in all corruption cases with no exception.”

Navas revealed that “jewels, goods and even patrimonial works or art” were seized during the search warrants. (I)