Relationship between Pamela Martínez and Odebrecht was close

Ecuadortimes:

The correspondence between Pamela Martínez and Odebrecht sheds clues to a close relationship between them. For example, in October 2015, the ex-adviser of Rafael Correa invited the then representative of Odebrecht in Ecuador, Geraldo Pereira de Sousa, to the presentation of his book.

“Dear Geraldo, I have the pleasure of participating that I will make the presentation of my book … despite the distance I want to share the event with you”. These links are now investigated by the Attorney General’s Office. Martinez, who is in custody, was summoned for tomorrow June 11, 2019 to expand its version in the Office of the Prosecutor.

In a first statement already revealed clues about that relationship. He said that in 2013, then Vice President Jorge Glas told him that in a few days he would receive a package and that he should give it to Alexis Mera. “Sure enough, a few days later a man who identified himself as Geraldo Pereira de Sousa arrived, and I learned later that he was an Odebrecht official.

He handed me some envelopes with money, “Martinez said in the Office of the Prosecutor. There is more information in your emails. On July 30, 2013, Pereira de Sousa sent him a letter, the subject of which read: “Confirmation of transfer to Nexo Global.” In this was attached a detail of that transaction.

It is explained that it is a “payment to third parties” for USD 20 320. Nexo Global is a company linked to Martínez. There his relatives work and is currently investigated as a legal entity for alleged illicit association, bribery and influence peddling.

The theory of the Office of the Prosecutor is that Martínez received money from Odebrecht and used it to cover expenses of A. País campaigns. She said the funds were given to other former officials. The former legal secretary of the Corismo, Alexis Mera, and the ex-minister Maria de los Angeles Duarte are being tried.

The Attorney General, Diana Salazar, will request the version of Pereira de Sousa, to include it as evidence in the process along with Martínez’s notebooks and digital files that will be extracted from the seized computers. In the communications there are also emails that allude to judicial processes that were processed in the Constitutional Court (CC).

In September 2014, a year before Martínez became judge of that body, the Odebrecht official sent her an email entitled: “Aepiva Constitutional Court Ballot 2005”. Martinez asks other officials about this case and explains that it is an Extraordinary Protection Action on a trial.

On April 20, 2013, Pereira de Sousa had already mentioned to Martínez about this file. He even sent him a four-page brief explaining why the CC should order a precautionary measure to prevent a ruling against Odebrecht. The statement reads: “If the execution of the judgment is allowed … it would mean that the company would leave the SRI’s white list … The above has the effect that the Incop should eliminate the construction company from the list of state suppliers.”

Other emails mention Odebrecht contracts with third parties, but with prior knowledge of Martínez. This is the case of February 21, 2013, Laura Terán, assistant to Martinez, now detained, sends a statement to an employer and says: “By instruction of Dr. Pamela Martínez, I am pleased to send you the following information …”.

In this communication the data of the Odebrecht company are attached as your address and telephone numbers in Quito. A month later, the businessman indicated in the mail sent a message to Pereira de Sousa with a copy to Pamela Martínez that said: “Dear Geraldo: … I made the corrections to the draft of the contract regarding the services, but I did not make the change of the legal representative or the monthly value, so I ask you to do it. Next week I should go to Quito and we could take the opportunity to sign it if you agree, confirm it … ”

The employer who draws up the contract is related to Jimmy Salazar, husband of Martinez. On March 13, 2018, the husband posted on his Twitter account the directive of his political movement Social Justice. There, the entrepreneur appears as the National Executive Director. The emails exchanged in 2013 show how Odebrecht paid Martinez a trip to Brazil and even contributed financially for his birthday party.

Source: https://www.elcomercio.com/actualidad/relacion-cercana-pamela-martinez-odebrecht.html