Prosecutor’s Office reformulated charges for the Bucaram brothers and 12 other defendants

In the Albán Borja Judicial Unit of Guayaquil, the hearing to reformulate the charges was held against Jacobo Bucaram Pulley and 14 other people for alleged irregularities in the purchase of medical supplies in IESS hospitals, during the health emergency.

Prosecutor’s Office reformulated charges for the Bucaram brothers and 12 other defendants

The diligence, carried out this Wednesday, October 7, was requested by the Attorney General’s Office to reformulate charges against all the defendants. 

The entity requested the diligence to change the criminal figure of illicit association (3 to 5 years in prison), for organized crime (between 7 and 10 years in prison).

Initially, the defendants were accused of alleged participation in the crime of illicit association for the alleged commercialization of medical supplies, typified by the second paragraph of article 196 of the Comprehensive Organic Criminal Code (COPI), which refers to the sale of public goods .

However, Claudia Romero, prosecutor in the case, identified elements that determined that it is not only about criminal offenses, but that a structure that would be favored with the award of contracts, through payment agreements through hospitals of the IESS.

Among these are the Los Ceibos and Teodoro Maldonado health houses, for which the change from crime to organized crime was requested.

Judge Ronald Guerrero accepted the request by the Prosecutor’s Office. With this, the tax instruction will be extended 30 more days. That is, the investigation will last 120 days in total.

Besides Jacbo Bucaram, his brothers Michel and Dalo are mentioned ; the latter’s wife, Gabriela Pazmiño, as well as the Salcedo Bonilla brothers, both with preventive detention.

This diligence was carried out after Judge Guerrero decided yesterday morning to suspend the hearing due to incidents involving the defense of the Bucaram brothers.

The lawyers Cristian Romero and Alfredo Arboleda, argued that the jurisdiction of the magistrate is not valid. At the hearing they indicated that they presented a challenge to Guerrero, who is the same judge who received death threats from two foreign citizens, after Jacobo Bucaram in Colombia was arrested and sent to the Latacunga jail.

By order of the judge, the lawyers withdrew from the courtroom and instead public defenders were delegated.

The prosecutor of the case , detailed that the investigation is about a criminal structure. She reiterated that although there are no agreements or payments on behalf of the Bucaram brothers, the close relationship with former high-ranking hospital officials is evidenced, who allowed illegal marketing. (I)