The Public Ministry filed a constitutional complaint against the former president Martín Vizcarra and the former ministers María Antonieta Alva and Victor Zamora by The alleged crime of aggravated collusion Because of the direct purchase of 1 400,000 (one million four hundred thousand) rapid tests during the start of the pandemic because of the COVID-19. The Prosecutor’s Office argues that there was an illegal agreement with suppliers after a key meeting in the Ministry of Economy, which would compromise the transparency of one of the most important contracts that were held the first year of health emergency.
On the other hand, The Prosecutor’s Office He decided not to formulate charges for omission of functions in relation to the delay in the acquisition of vaccines against COVID-19. This decision exempts from responsibility to Martín Vizcarraas president; María Antonieta AlvaPilar Mazzetti and Gustavo Meza-Cuadra, in their actions as Ministers of Economy, Health and Foreign Relations, respectively; For the alleged commission of the crime of omission, refusal or delay of functional acts, to the detriment of the State.
The facts are referred to the investigation followed by the alleged delay in adopting measures and making the necessary efforts in order to acquire vaccines against the disease of Coronavirus Covid-19 for the immediate immunization of the population.
Why are they accused of the crime of aggravated collusion?
The Prosecutor’s Office argues that Martín Vizcarra, then president, together with the former Minister of Economics María Antonieta Alva and the former health former Víctor Zamora, would have taken advantage of the critical context of the health emergency by the COVID-19 to illegally benefit two private companies through direct contracting. According to the complaint, the former officials would have agreed with Nipro Medical Corporation and Multimedical Supplies SAC for the acquisition of rapid evidence for more than 6.5 million dollars, through Peru Purchases and the National Institute of Health.
The Public Ministry considers that this alleged agreement configures an act of fraud to the State, not only in economic but also social terms, having perpetrated at a time of high national vulnerability. The facts described are framed in article 384 of the Criminal Code, which sanctions the officials with up to 15 years in prison who, using their position, are illegally involved in public hiring to the detriment of the national treasury.
