The lawyers of Bananera Noboa disagree with the SRI about seizure procedures

Three months after the seizure of La Clementina plantations, owned by the Ecuadorian businessman Alvaro Noboa, the tax dispute process continues between the Internal Revenue Service (SRI, for its acronym in Spanish) and Exportadora Bananera Noboa, for an alleged debt of $ 103 million.

As reported in a briefing note published by Expreso newspaper  of Guayaquil, attorney of bananera, Juan Vizueta, said in a statement that the past August 16 it was submitted a direct action claim, which suspends the collection proceedings; thus prevents further seizures to be carried out or to proceed to the auction of goods that remain under the tax administration.

“The action taken by the SRI is subsequent to the presentation of the direct action claim,  therefore is null and void… Although the embargo was notified recently in papers, in practice, the tax warehouse keeper of the SRI has been managing the goods of El Tejano and Río Playon”, says the document in defense of the Ecuadorian businessman.

Despite the delivery of the document, the SRI reported that same day the seizure of the El Tejano and Río Playon, both located within La Clementina, which “were not seized on May 21”.

Within the seized properties there are around 2 500 hectares of banana, 2 200 hectares of protected forest, seven Packers, among other goods.

The lawyers of bananera Noboa pointed out that they will continue their legal action so that due process is respected.