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The Office of the Prosecutor investigates three denunciations for tithes
Posted On 14 Sep 2018
Ecuadornews:
The Office of the Prosecutor will have to obtain the evidence of the collection of tithes from the assembly members to their assistants and advisers. The head of the Prosecutor’s Office, Paúl Pérez Reina, announced that the investigations have been opened against three assembly members. The official did not specify the names, and said that in his power are the three complaints.
“In the next few days we will issue work orders to call witnesses and evaluate documents of these complaints,” he said, without answering any questions.
Prior to Pérez Reina’s declaration, Attorney Gonzalo Realpe arrived at the Prosecutor’s Office, who on behalf of Washington Añasco filed a complaint against the Assemblyman of SUMA, Juan Sebastián Palacios. He accused the legislator of influence peddling and of owe 30 thousand dollars to his defendant.
“The prosecutor already has in his office a complaint of a very serious act of corruption where Assemblyman Palacios is not only involved, but senior officials of the Municipality of Quito,” he said.
Realpe said they have at least 25 recordings, documents and witnesses that support the complaint filed.
Minutes later came Andrea Utreras, along with her lawyer Roberto Calderón to denounce the undue payment that the Assemblywoman for Manabí, Karina Arteaga (PAIS), had been doing in favor of the movement. The assembly member preferred not to pronounce on the matter when these days were requested on the complaint.
To these two cases is added the denunciation presented days ago by the president of the Assembly, Elizabeth Cabezas, against the assemblyman of Pachakutik Tito Puanchir, for the presumed charge of $ 10,500 to Marta Campoverde to hire her as an adviser.
Meanwhile, from the Assembly the legislators defended themselves. Palacios denied any link with Washington Añasco, and stated that he “never received any money” from the complainant.
For his part, Tito Puanchir, at a press conference, said that the money received was on loan, and that there is a commitment to return it.
Meanwhile, from the office of the Assemblyman of CREO, Fabricio Villamar, who began with the issue, already lets glimpse that there are people who presented their complaints that began to retract. “The injured parties are beginning to retract their complaints. They are reaching agreements. At least I hope that they will get back what they took from their salaries, “Pablo Santillán, Villamar’s advisor, wrote on Twitter.
Brenda Flor denies the accusations
The Assemblywoman for Galapagos, Brenda Flor, denies in a letter sent to this Journal that she is involved in any denunciation, neither in the Office of the Prosecutor or in the Legislative Chamber, for the payment of tithes in the Assembly, as she said in EXPRESO Andrea Utreras, a of the complainants of the case in the Assembly. Brenda Flor attributes the complaint to a false Twitter profile. (I)
