Among the crimes investigated are embezzlement, illicit association and organized crime. Two other assembly members have pending criminal proceedings that were opened before they joined the Legislative.
They are crimes punishable by up to thirteen years in prison. The prosecution is open seven previous investigations against legislators from the 2021-2025 period for influence peddling, organized crime, concussion and embezzlement; that is, crimes against the public administration.
The data was provided to THE TIME by General Coordination of Legal Advice of the Prosecutor’s Office. The entity indicated that it cannot disclose the names of those investigated, because at this stage “they are under reserve”, as indicated in article 584 of the Int codeCriminal law in force (Coip). It is also unknown, at the moment, if these inquiries were made before being elected.
Cases that are prosecuted
Another institution, the National Court of Justice He also responded to a request for information from LA HORA about open processes against current legislators. The data was extracted from the Evidence Database to which the ICT Unit of the High Court.
There it is observed that there are two processes that were initiated against legislators before they assumed the seats in the Assembly and they are still active.
concussion cases
One of those processes belongs to Mariano Curicama (Minga Party), who has an open case since September 3, 2020, for possible concussion. This crime is punishable by up to five years in prison, according to art. 278 of the COIP.
The former prefect of Chimborazo received precautionary measures to preventive detention since 2020. A judge determined that he should use an electronic device and appear periodically at the Chimborazo Prosecutor’s Office.
Mariano Curicama and the former vice prefect, Tránsito Lluco, were investigated after the complaint of two former employees of the provincial government who indicated illegitimate discounts on their salaries. According to the information provided by the CNJ, the process is already in the call for trial stage. LA HORA searched for his version, but the official did not respond to the messages.
The embezzlement haunts politicians
Another assemblyman who did not answer was the legislator Salvador Quishpe (PK). The files obtained from the Test Database indicate that a case of alleged embezzlement is now ready to “substantiate the trial stage.” This crime is punishable by up to 13 years in prison (Art. 278 of the COIP)
Quishpe faces a criminal process initiated in 2015, for the emergency declaration for the construction of four bridges, when he was prefect of Zamora Chinchipe. Three other investigations against him were dismissed.
In a previous statement, Quishpe said that these legal actions against him were the product of legal persecution at the time, when he was one of the most visible opponents of the then government, led by Rafel Correa.
Research affects the image
The political scientist Iván Martínez and the lawyer Ximena Alcívar They agree that this type of case affects the institutionality of the Assembly. “Legislators are expected to behave irreproachably as representatives of the people,” said Martínez.
Alcivar goes further. He says that each case must be treated with “tweezers” because there were open cases, especially during the time of the Rafael Correa government, against local authorities that ultimately did not prosper. “However, those complaints remain for the records.” (PD)
Figures in red from the previous Assembly
In total, 34 of the 137 assembly members in the 2017-2021 period ended with investigations for the same crimes against the administration. One of the best known cases was that of Karina Artega who has been called to trial for alleged concussion.
In that case, in addition, Jhon A., Arteaga’s husband, was being prosecuted. The Prosecutor’s Office also filed an accusation against him, but Judge Macías issued a dismissal, that is, his innocence was confirmed.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, between 2017 and 2019, Arteaga, abusing her position and under threats, demanded by herself, and through a collaborator, financial contributions from her subordinates, in exchange for keeping them in their jobs. The former legislator has denied that accusation. There is still no date for the trial.
This is the third process for the Diezmos case in the Assembly that reaches trial. Before they were already sentenced María Alejandra Vicuña, whose case is in cassation and Norma Vallejo. Both were assembly members of the Correísta party of Alianza PAÍS.
