Prosecutor’s Office begins this December 3 the proceedings for tithes

Ecuadornews:

The Prosecutor’s Office will begin today, December 3, 2018, the taking of versions within the preliminary inquiry for the alleged undue charges that splash the Vice President of the Republic, María Alejandra Vicuña.

The official acknowledged that in her first term as Assemblywoman for Guayas, shewas in charge of collecting the contributions of the militants to finance the Bolivarian Alfarista Alliance (ABA). The Second President affirms that this organization is in fact and not in law. For this reason, as argued, the group was prevented from opening a bank account to be deposited the contributions ofits adherents.

However,the ABA does have a movement with legal status in the National Electoral Council (CNE). It is a provincial political organization, with scope of action in Los Ríos. She is currently assigned to box 69.

In a radio interview, Vicuña said that ABA has different structures and commissions,but insisted that they do not have an electoral register. According to information from the CNE, ABA Los Ríos is one of the 278 political organizations that will be able to present candidates for the sectional elections on March 24of next year.

The president of ABA Los Ríos is Patricio Zambrano. In a 2017 accountability report, Zambrano was listed as director of the Technical Office of the Ministry of Urban Development and Housing (Miduvi), in Los Ríos. In that year, the current vice president was appointed Minister of that State Portfolio. ABA has presence in 20 provinces of the country, with their respective authorities.This was pointed out by Tamara Chacón, provincial secretary of the group in Guayas.

In addition, she argued that not all contributions are economic, but also materials or supplies are delivered. “Each province has its organizational structure, which responds to our organic status,” she said.

Geovanny Macias, another leader of the group in Guayas, added that “the leaders of cantons, parishes and provinces finance the activities with contributions from their militants.” In ABA, the option of registering the group in the CNE was analyzed internally.

However,according to Chacón, they “did not want to generate a negative expectation regarding their relationship with Alianza País.” In the case of ABA Los Ríos, the representative stated that “the situation and the conditions provided for that in that province to be registered in the National Electoral Council”. Last Friday, a second case of alleged undue charges that points to María Alejandra Vicuña came to light.

Anex-adviser of the office of the then Assemblywoman denounced that she had deposited some USD 14 650 in the personal account of the now Vice President. Ángel Sagbay, ex-adviser of Vicuña between 2011 and 2013 and who assures by affidavit that he made deposits to the Vicuña account, was summoned today by the Prosecutor’s Office, to render his free and voluntary version.

The diligence will be at 10:00. The former Andrés Ramáz Andrés Páez will go to the Prosecutor’s Office earlier. It is expected that the politician will recognize his signature in the complaint he filed to investigate the alleged irregular charges.

Ruth Palacios, deputy attorney general, said that if another complaint is filed in this case, it will be included in the same preliminary investigation. She added that this phase of the investigation has the character of reserved.

One of the criminal figures in which the Second President may have incurred is that of concussion. The COIP typifies this crime when public servants request fees or undue contributions. According to data from the Judicial Council, between January 1 and October 31 of this year, 39 cases were brought for concussion,nationwide.

Of these, only in three cases were convictions. The accusations against Vicuña also highlighted the differences within Alianza País (AP). The president of the Assembly, Elizabeth Cabezas, questioned a statement spread on the socialnet works of the AP, which supports Vicuña.

Fabricio Villamar, assemblyman of Creo, hopes to gather until tomorrow the necessary signatures to formalize the request for a political trial against Vicuña before the Legislative Administration Commission. The legislator assures that it already has 58 rubrics. Vicuña, without speaking of resignation, clarified tha this “position will always be available to the President until he enjoys his confidence.” (I)

Source: https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/fiscalia-inicia-diciembre-diligencias-diezmos.html