Two experts heard audio about Balda’s kidnapping

Ecuadornews:

Of the reserved diligence made yesterday, new links and opening of inquiries for other crimes would be revealed. Legislators analyze Correa’s linkage in this case today.

Raúl Ch., Involved in the kidnapping of politician Fernando Balda, provided this Wednesday June 13 key information that would serve to link other people and open new inquiries for other crimes. In diligence conducted from 10:30 in the Laboratory of Criminalistics and Forensic Sciences of the Police, the contents of the pendrive delivered by the defendant was exhibited as part of their effective cooperation.

These are documents and about 80 hours of audio, but in the presence of the prosecutor of the case and the lawyers of those involved, Raúl Ch. Expounded the specific and relevant parts of the information.

Diego Chimbo, lawyer of the defendant, clarified that the diligence of this Wednesday June 13 has the character of secret, so it did not reveal details.

However, he indicated that the audios were heard procedurally with the presence of two experts and then the transcription will be carried out. “Once the transcript is made, it will enter the process and the information will be public,” he said.

For Felipe Rodríguez, Fernando Balda’s lawyer, what is happening is essential “because even more solid foundations begin to emerge to process this state structure that existed to commit the kidnapping.”

He admitted that from the diligence of this Wednesday, June 13 at least a new link would show up, but also “could lead to find new crimes”, if it is determined that there was effective covert or “cleanup”, which is to eliminate everything trace of the fact.

“Obviously, it gives us new insights,” he added, noting that the new crimes that could be investigated are influence peddling, embezzlement and procedural fraud.

New request to Judge Rodriguez revealed that on June 13 he has submitted a brief in the National Court of Justice, requesting that, whatever the response of the Assembly, Judge Daniella Camacho fixes the date and time for the binding hearing of former President Rafael Correa.

This request was made because, in his opinion, “the response of the Assembly is irrelevant.”

The jurist considers that the Legislative should not discuss whether or not the former president has immunity and court jurisdiction, but rather give a direct response.

“Immunity applies to the President and as far as I remember, Rafael Correa stopped being president last year,” he said. And is that what worries him are the times, since until the 18th of this month new links could be made to the process because on July 18 the deadline assigned for the fiscal instruction ends.

Israel Moreno, a lawyer for Jorge E., another of the defendants, said that the statements that have been made and the versions given establish what the chain of command was like. “Everything points to the fact that the provision apparently came from the President of the Republic, which is why the Office of the Prosecutor made the decision to propose the link,” he said.

The versions continue

Meanwhile, in the Office of the Prosecutor the former legal coordinator of the National Secretariat of Intelligence (Senain), Oswaldo Redrován, yesterday gave his free version on the case.

In his statement, he revealed that Raúl Ch. Requested legal support to defend himself against the case, but he was not granted. For this Thursday, June 14, former Minister Homero Arellano is quoted.

The plenary of the Assembly will be pronounced this afternoon

The plenary of the National Assembly will meet at 16:00 this Thursday 14 June to know and process the request of the judge of the Criminal of the National Court of Justice, Daniella Camacho, to authorize the connection of the former president of the Republic, Rafael Correa, in the Balda case.

In the session of the legislature, this Wednesday, June 13, the legislator Fernando Burbano proposed the change of the agenda for the subject to be treated in that session, which barely had 69 votes of support from the 121 assembly members present, so that the motion did not prosper.

Two options have the legislators to pronounce on the subject.

First, apply Art. 120 numeral 109 of the Constitution: with 92 votes in favor (two thirds) you can authorize what was requested by Judge Camacho; and second: that the legislators respond that they are not competent to pronounce themselves, for which only 69 votes will be required, half plus one, with which the magistrate would practically be authorized.

In the opinion of Fabricio Villamar, of CREO, this is the most viable. For the session this afternoon the presence in the Legislative is expected of supporters of former President Correa, as well as people who support the political activist Fernando Balda, so that security measures will be increased. (I)

Source: https://www.eltelegrafo.com.ec/noticias/judicial/12/secuestro-balda-informacion-cooperador-eficaz