Lawyer Alleges Complicit Silence from Government Over Corruption in Ministry of Environment and Water

The lawyer who filed the complaint for alleged acts of corruption in the Ministry of Environment and Water, Ricardo Rodríguez, indicated that there was a complicit silence from the Government ministries and the Presidency, regarding the alleged malpractices carried out by ex-authority Juan Santos Cruz.

“There was a complicit silence from the Minister of Government and the Minister of the Presidency,” said the lawyer who reported the incident to the Public Ministry and stated that even the woman who has become the protected witness in the case should be prosecuted for what happened since he also participated in some of the acts of corruption that he claims to have witnessed.

The crimes for which the Prosecutor’s Office has been asked to initiate the investigation are: improper use of goods and services, illicit enrichment, passive bribery, improper use of influences, benefits due to the position, irregular negotiations, concussion and legitimization of illegal profits.

Rodríguez specified that now the investigation must be extended to the companies that were awarded some of the works, since it must be known if the State made any disbursement, the amounts that could have been delivered and the authorities involved.

“This process is being followed by the Vice Ministry of Transparency and the situation has been evaluated and an immigration alert has been issued. We hope that the minister is not going to escape, “said the lawyer and pointed out that it would have been better for Santos to come forward to testify voluntarily.

“Claudia (The witness) wrote to the President to tell him that he can present all the evidence in the case,” said the lawyer during the interview with Central Affairs and ended by reiterating that the white sticks should be investigated for these alleged acts of corruption carried out in the Ministry of Environment and Water.

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