July 9, 2023, 7:01 PM
July 9, 2023, 7:01 PM
A report from the Prosecutor’s Office, which was recently released, details that the past June 15, the commission of prosecutors, Investigating the “million-dollar bribes” case at the Ministry of the Environment, reported the raid on the offices of former minister Juan Santos Cruz in the Casa Grande del Pueblo. He also performed similar operating in other offices of that ministry. The commission of prosecutors reported that it would add investigations in five departments of the country.
“Act of registration of the place of the event, developed on June 15, 2023 in facilities of the Casa Grande del Pueblo building. The record of collection of material evidence is attached, as well as the photocopies of identity cards issued by the officials who continue to perform functions in the registered facilities since the administration of Mr. Juan Santos Cruz”, indicates the report of the Prosecutor’s Office.
On May 16, the former minister, Juan Santos Cruz was formally detained, accused of legitimation of illicit profits. Before him, two people he trusted had already been arrested and, later, Vice Minister Carmelo Valda would also be apprehended.
The document describes the intervention to the facilities of the Vice Ministry where Valda worked and also from the UCP-PAAP Unit, located in the Ministry of Environment and Water building. The latter is the unit that tendered all the projects in that State portfolio.
It was precisely notified to the director of this office, Álvaro Ch.O, Who should answer about the processes. Three other officials, María FSR, Ricardo ABC and Katiusca GM were also summoned to testify, but they did not appear, despite the fact that they were contacted and there was a commitment to testify.
The phones that were confiscated from the apprehended also were referred to the IITCUP, Police laboratory that must examine the contents of the equipment. Abel Loma, lawyer for the key witness, Claudia Cortez, reported that they will request an expert opinion on the telephone number of leader Eber Rojas, a Csutcb executive, who denied knowing the accuser and also denied that former minister Santos Cruz had given him money.
The commission of prosecutors It has the names of people close to the former minister, those who have their domiciles in five departments. There is one from Potosí, the same as in Chuquisaca; two in Tarija, another two in Santa Cruz and four in Pando.
The statements of these people coincide with the appearance of Santos Cruz’s assets in those regions and the first investigations indicated that he resorted to white sticks to acquire assets.
