After the National Court annulled the Singue case, in the appeal phase of the sentence, the General Prosecutor’s Office has reopened the investigation.
Reading of the sentence in the Singue case against 15 defendants, on January 25, 2021.
Six months after the declaration of nullity of the Singue case, the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) has reopened the previous investigation against 14 people for alleged irregularities in the award of the oil field.
As in the original case, among those investigated in the new process are:
- Jorge Glas, former Vice President of the Republic
- Carlos Pareja Yannuzzelli, former Minister of Hydrocarbons
- Wilson Pastor, former Minister of Hydrocarbons
The first prosecutorial action in this new investigation was the notification to the lawyers of the 14 investigated. Now, these people will be able to access the file to prepare their defense.
The case returned to zero. That is, it is in the preliminary investigation stage.
And after collecting evidence about the alleged commission of a crime, the Public Ministry must request the National Court of Justice (CNJ) date and time for the formulation of charges.
The reopening of this case was made public on the same day that prosecutor Diana Salazar asked the CNJ to file charges against former vice president Glas and two other people for embezzlement, in relation to the reconstruction works in Manabí and Esmeraldas for the earthquake of April 16, 2016.
The original Singue case
The Singue case focuses on the alleged irregularities in the award of the contract for the extraction of oil in the Singue field, during the Government of Rafael Correa.
According to the Prosecutor’s theory, the 15 defendants committed embezzlement. The damage to the State would have occurred by setting a price of USD 33.5 per barrel produced , that is, less than the value of the initial offer.
In addition, the Prosecutor’s Office assures that to reach that figure, 100% of the proven hydrocarbon reserves for this oil field were not taken into account.
These facts would have caused damage to the State of approximately USD 28.4 million.
The nullity
On November 10, 2022, a Court of the National Court of Justice declared null and void all the proceedings in the judicial process of the Singue case. The sentence against Jorge Glas and seven other people was not substantiated.
Originally, this case was based on a report from the State Comptroller General (CGE), which led to indications of criminal responsibility.
However, this report was annulled by an administrative court, since it was approved after the time provided by law for control over the use of public resources.
Since 2019, due to a ruling by the Constitutional Court, the report with indications of criminal responsibility is no longer a requirement for the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate this type of case.
So now, the Public Ministry must substantiate its case without taking into account the Comptroller’s report.
These are the people who were sentenced in the first instance:
