June 15, 2023, 6:12 PM
June 15, 2023, 6:12 PM
All the projects tendered by the former Minister of the Environment, Juan Santos Cruz, they went on to be audited and await a report on this point; likewise, all positions in the ministry are available and It is being evaluated official by officialsaid this Thursday the new head of that portfolio, Rubén Méndez.
“Audits are being carried out on all the projects that are involved, audits have been ordered and surely what has happened will be the subject of a report. We are going to provide information to the (fiscal) authorities in what state the projects are, actions have been taken on this issue, but I am dedicating myself to the management,” said Minister Martínez before leaving the Assembly building where attended to provide report on mercury.
Juan Santos Cruz, who was Minister of the Environment, has been detained since May 16 accused of legitimizing illegal proceeds, after his right hand, Claudia Cortez, will reveal that charged millions of bribes to companies that were awarded projects. The former minister would have collected Bs 19 million in bribes in two years, according to the testimony of his complainant.
The new minister took office on May 17, the day after Santos Cruz was apprehended by the Police and a week later he asked that all officials make your charges available. At this time, she said that they are all being tested.
“So we are evaluating person by person, official and by official, some of us are ratifying, some of us are appreciating serviceswe are trying to give a new image to the ministry”, Méndez graphed.
For his part, the vice minister of the same ministry, Carmelo Valda, appeared before the media and explained that The minister asked that all leave their positions available and he complied with that instruction, but he was not dismissed from his position.
“The position is available, I have met with the brother minister, I have told him that we are going to continue supporting him, and surely the brother president will define“, said. The positions of vice ministers must be authorized by the Presidency and must have a supreme resolution.
Carmelo Valda was mentioned by the witness Claudia Cortez as one of the people linked to the illicit bribery business in that ministry. But he denied his involvement and warned that once everything is cleared up, he will initiate a process against Cortez for slander and defamation.
“On the issue of corruption of former minister Juan Santos I have nothing to do with it, as long as the Prosecutor’s Office summons me, of course I will attendto tell the truth, I am going to clarify everything, surely they are going to ask me and I am ready to assume any type of clarification, any investigation, I said it from the first time and I will ratify it again, ”he said.
He also added that he saw Claudia Cortez in the minister’s office, although this said in his statement that he did not know the person who denounced him. Valda stated that he does not know her, but that he saw her in Santos’s office.
“I have not had any relationship with Mrs. Claudia Cortéz, never a meeting, I saw her a couple of times in the office (of the minister), but I have never had a call, that’s why I’m calm, “he concluded.
