The Third Section of the Administrative Court of Cundinamarca extended the freezing of the judicial process derived from the million-dollar lawsuit for the declaration of the passport tender made by Thomas Greg & Sons to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Chancellery).
“The office will agree to decree the suspension for the period indicated by the parties because the legal requirement is met.“, the court mentioned, also mentioning that The reactivation was scheduled for February 4.
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It is worth mentioning that on October 3 of last year the suspension of the legal debate was decreed between October 4 of that year until January 23 of this year.by joint request between the Chancellery and Thomas Greg. 60 business days were given for the firm to internally study the possibility of withdrawing the demand for 117,000 million pesos for the administrative act that declared the tender (LP-001-2023) for the production of passports void.
Chancellery
Private file
After this period and, after different consultations with his foreign partners, Thomas Greg has not yet taken a definitive position; Therefore, the parties again agreed to request 11 extra days to continue exploring alternatives..
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“In accordance with the provisions of article 161, paragraph 2 of the General Process Code, we request by common agreement the suspension of the process from January 23, 2025 to February 4, 2025, both dates inclusive.“, reads the joint suspension memorial filed in the Judicial Management System (Samai).
The reasons
The lawsuit questions the decisions that, at that time, the then Chancellor Álvaro Leyva made when declaring the bidding process void for more than 599,000 million pesosto which only the Temporary Union Passports 2023.
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Thomas Greg alleges the violation of his interests and rights by having obtained the highest qualification to be awarded said tender contract.
In fact, due to irregularities committed in said tender, the Attorney General’s Office decided to issue a sanction to the chancellor with a disqualification and dismissal from holding public office for 10 years, a first instance ruling that was appealed by his defense.
Alvaro Leyva
Chancellery
The former chancellor stopped this business when he considered that it was focused on Thomas Greg, a company that, for several years, has been in charge of it. However, for the Public Ministry, Leyva proceeded improperly, violating the economic, transparency and responsibility principles.
It is worth mentioning that the representatives of the Chancellery in this litigation affirm that Thomas Greg will not lose the profits he had anticipated due to the failed tender, having been awarded a new contract under manifest urgency to continue leading the printing of passports until August 2025.
The future of demand
As revealed by sources close to Thomas Greg to EL TIEMPO, although there is still no final decision, solutions are being sought: “The truth is that Thomas Greg does not live by suing the State, he lives by executing contracts… and he is seeing solutions“.
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If after carrying out its study, the company decides to press its claims, the procedural debate would be resumed.. In this case, a request for clarification submitted by the Foreign Ministry to the order issued on July 26, which announces that an early ruling will be issued, is pending resolution.
Laura Sarabia.
EFE
“We are still not sure what will happen once the suspension ends.“, they say from the National Government.
In the event that the judicial process is resumed and Judge Bertha Lucy Ceballos issues an early ruling and denies the evidence, The Chancellery retains the option of filing appeals that would have to be resolved by that same office and even by the Council of State..
This case, which began with Álvaro Leyva and passed through the hands of Luis Gilberto Murillonow it will have to be resolved with Laura Sarabia at the head of the Ministry. The outgoing director of Dapre and right hand of the President Gustavo Petrohas everything ready to take over as of February 1st.
TIME – POLITICS
