Carlos Pólit had insisted on the request to dismiss the charges against him. But, finally, a Judge denied it and ratified the call for trial.
The former State Comptroller, Carlos Pólit, in an appearance before a commission of the Assembly, on April 13, 2016.
After 10 months of motions, insistences and responses, finally, the trial for money laundering against Carlos Pólit, former Ecuadorian comptroller, will take place on April 8, 2024, in Miami, United States.
During this time, lawyers for Pólit and the United States exchanged several documents. The former Ecuadorian official wanted to dismiss the case against him and the US Attorney’s Office to avoid it.
In December 2022, Pólit filed two motions to dismiss:
- Pólit and his lawyers alleged that the prosecution did not identify the elements that constitute the bribery. Nor misappropriation, theft and embezzlement of funds. Also, the accusation did not make reference to the articles of Ecuadorian criminal legislation that prohibit such conduct.
- In addition, they alleged an alleged violation of the statute of limitations. This rule establishes the maximum time that the parties in a legal dispute have to initiate proceedings. In this case, a maximum of five years is established . Pólit assured that his case began out of time.
At the beginning of 2023, the United States, through its prosecutors, asked the court to ignore these requests.
However, on February 10, 2023, Pólit presented replies to the US arguments and again insisted on the nullity of the case.
For this reason, the case was sent to the office of a magistrate judge, who is responsible for resolving pretrial issues and is called an R&R report.
This instance fell to Magistrate Judge Lisette Reid. This judicial official gave her R&R report in mid-August 2023, and recommended denying the motions to dismiss the charges against Carlos Pólit.
Finally, on October 16, 2023, Judge Kathleen M. Williams , who is presiding over the case, accepted the R&R report and denied the two motions filed by Pólit to dismiss the charges against him.
Furthermore, once these appeals were resolved, the United States Justice Department scheduled the jury trial of Carlos Pólit for April 8, 2024, at 9:00 a.m.
The Pólit case
According to the United States Department of Justice, Pólit allegedly participated “in a scheme to use that country’s financial system to launder money , promote and conceal a bribery scheme in Ecuador.”
The indictment was filed on March 24, 2022. Between 2010 and 2016, Carlos Pólit allegedly requested and received more than $10 million in bribes from Brazilian construction company Odebrecht. This in exchange for using his position to benefit the company.
Additionally, the accusation alleges that Pólit received a bribe from an Ecuadorian businessman in 2015. In exchange for this money, he would have helped the businessman and his firm with certain contracts with Seguros Sucre.
The indictment also mentions that, between 2010 and 2017, under the direction of Pólit, another member of the alleged conspiracy, he made the proceeds of the bribes “disappear. ” And for this he would have used Florida companies registered in the names of certain associates. Often without their knowledge.
The conspirators also allegedly used funds from Pólit’s bribery scheme to purchase and renovate real estate in South Florida and elsewhere. As well as to buy restaurants, a dry cleaner and other businesses.
If convicted, the former comptroller will face up to 20 years in prison on each count of money laundering and conspiracy to commit money laundering. And up to 10 years in prison for each count of participating in property transactions derived from criminal activities.
That is, he could face up to 100 years in prison .
