The regional governor of Tumbes, Segismundo Cruces Ordinolawas arrested on the night of Thursday, February 5, in Lima, as part of a mega-operation carried out by the Public Ministry and the National Police of Peru in several cities in the country.
The arrest of the regional authority occurred while, in parallel, fiscal and police teams carried out proceedings in Tumbes, Lime and Chiclayowhere homes and offices linked to people close to the governor were intervened.
The operation, which continued to take place during the morning of this Friday, February 6, is led by the Prosecutor’s Office Specialized in Money Laundering Crimes of Tumbes.
Segismundo Cruces Ordinola and other officials of the Regional Government of Tumbes would allegedly be involved in events related to money laundering.
As part of the proceedings, the authorities raided properties belonging to the governor, members of his family and trusted collaborators, as well as offices of the Regional Government of Tumbes, with the aim of collecting documentation and other elements relevant to the investigation.
It was learned that the authorities raided the home of Zoila Cuellar, partner of the regional governor Segismundo Cruces Ordinolaas part of the proceedings linked to the investigation for alleged money laundering.
According to police intelligence work, the regions of Piura and Tumbesdue to their status as border areas, have become hotbeds of alleged corruption in recent years, with the possible involvement of civil, police and military authorities.
The general Orlando Sanchez Ramirezhead of the police department in charge of the case, told RPP that initially the intervention was planned only in Tumbes, but was redirected after the Police became aware that the governor was in Lima, which led to advancing the action to avoid a possible risk of escape.
In addition to the governor, Laura Eguzquinta Flores was arrested, who, according to the investigation, would be the niece of the governor’s wife and would be linked to the alleged criminal organization.
According to the PNP, she is responsible for the irregular management of public works, specifically work to clear the Tumbes River, carried out approximately two or three years ago.
The amount involved in these works would amount to nearly three million soles.
In total, five people should be arrested in this case. So far, two have been captured and the authorities continue to locate the other three, including public officials and people who would have worked directly with regional and provincial authorities.
Seized goods
As part of the money laundering investigation, the Police reported that the money allegedly obtained illicitly would have been used for the acquisition of movable and immovable property.
The total estimated value of the seized assets amounts to approximately S/ 8.5 million.
General Sánchez Ramírez told RPP that the preliminary detention has a period of 15 days, a period during which the Police must continue collecting elements of conviction that support the measure. The proceedings are carried out through the area specialized in money laundering, with actions in Tumbes, Piura and Trujillo.
Regarding the collaboration of the detained governor, he indicated that this aspect will be evaluated during the development of the proceedings and the corresponding statements.
The officer recalled that this would not be an isolated case in Tumbes. According to him, he is the fifth regional governor linked to corruption proceedings, while four former governors are currently facing trials or serving prison terms for different crimes.
The governor will be transferred to Tumbes under police custody, on a commercial flight, to continue with the corresponding procedures.
WHO IS CRUCES ORDINOLA?
Segismundo Cruces Ordinola is a Peruvian civil engineer and politician, born on September 25, 1965 in Zarumilla (Tumbes).
He has been regional governor of Tumbes since January 1, 2023, a position he accepted after winning the 2022 regional elections for Alianza para el Progreso (APP).
He has training at the Los Angeles Catholic University of Chimbote. In his political career he also joined the Peruvian Aprista Party between 2008 and 2009.
Before assuming the governorship, he was a regional candidate in 2022 and succeeded Dante Ramírez Zárate in office.
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