The Ministry of the Interior has decided to take drastic measures in the police leadership. As reported by Telenoche and confirmed by political sources, the director of the National Police, Diego Fernández, and the executive director, Jorge Berriel, will be removed from their posts and replaced as of March 1.
The deputy director of the National Police, Héctor Ferreira, resigned from his position in December. Fernández and Berriel are being investigated for the Astesiano case, which involves the former head of presidential security, Alejandro Astesiano.
The Ministry of the Interior will hold a press conference on Wednesday to explain the reasons behind the decision. The removal of the police leadership has been agreed with President Luis Lacalle Pou.
Florida Police Chief José Manuel Azambuya will replace Fernández, while Colonia Chief Jhonny Diego will take Ferreira’s position. Fernández and Berriel have communicated their dismissal to the internal Police.
Berriel is one of the hierarchs of the Ministry of the Interior investigated for the Astesiano case and appears in several conversations that are part of the investigation. In one of these conversations with Astesiano, Berriel provided data on a case of complaint of sexual abuse during a party organized by members of the National Party.
On the other hand, from the Broad Front have summoned the Minister of the InteriorLuis Alberto Heber, to appear in Parliament due to a increase in homicides in the last year compared to 2021. According to data presented by the Ministry, murders have increased by 25%, while robbery complaints have decreased by 5.9%.
