The Subcommittee on Constitutional Accusations (SAC) of Congress, approved by majority to accuse the former Minister of Health, Victor Zamora Messiahfor alleged violation of Article 9 of the Constitution and for crimes of omission and delay of functional acts during the management of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was adopted with 13 votes in favor, one against and one abstention, after the presentation of the report by Congressman Jorge Montoya.
The final report of Constitutional Complaint 367, suggests disqualifying Zamora for ten years for the exercise of public office and proposes that the Public Prosecutor’s Office investigate and act in accordance with its powers. The complaint also highlights the former minister’s responsibility in the shortage of medical oxygen, a critical resource during the pandemic.
The document approved will be referred to the Permanent Commission of Congresswhich will be responsible for appointing an accusing subcommittee. This subcommittee will be responsible for presenting the grounds of the report to the Plenary of Congress, formulating the respective accusation.
The Possible disqualification of Zamora to hold public office seeks to be a measure of accountability in the face of alleged deficiencies in their management during one of the most critical moments for public health in the country.
What is former Minister Zamora accused of?
Former Health Minister Victor Zamora is in the middle of accusations linked to oxygen shortages during the health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, he is accused of acquiring rapid tests that have proven to be ineffective, causing false negatives and contributing to the increase in infections of the disease.
These accusations are within the framework of the investigations into the management of Martín Vizcarra, where Zamora was a minister. Recently, the Attorney General’s Office has reopened for 120 days a investigation preliminary indictment against Vizcarra and other former ministers, including Víctor Zamora, for possible crimes of collusion and incompatible negotiation to the detriment of the State.
“The fiscal provision No. 08 has been issued, declaring founded the requests for reexamination of proceedings presented by the complainant Katherine Milagros Ampuero Meza, and the Attorney General of the State, María Aurora Caruajulca Quispe; alleging the existence of new elements of conviction in the preliminary investigation against Martín Alberto Vizcarra Cornejo, former President of the Republic; as well as María Antonieta Alva Luperti, María Elizabeth Hinostroza Pereyra and Víctor Marcial Zamora Mesía, former Ministers of State; for the alleged commission of the crimes of collusion and incompatible negotiation, to the detriment of the State,” the statement reads.
The case is in fiscal file No. 131-2020 and is in charge of the Third Office of the Second Provincial Corporate Prosecutor’s Office Specialized in Crimes of Corruption of Public Officials Lima. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the reopening of the case took into account the requests for reexamination made by the Attorney General of the State, María Caruajulca, and by the former Attorney General Katherine Ampuero, author of the original complaint.
