In June 1992, the Cyclone operation took place, leaving 14 detainees, 34 properties seized as well as cattle, jewelry, works of art and cars. Jorge Hugo Reyes Torres was accused of being the leader of an organization dedicated to drug trafficking, now his lawyer speaks with LA HORA.
The Ciclón case has been in litigation for 30 years. In 1992, the authorities prosecuted Jorge Hugo Reyes Torres on two occasions. In the first time, he was sentenced to 21 years and spent 16 years in prison. Later, he was sentenced again and the sentence was five years. Various assets seized they were handed over to the Police, universities and state secretariats. Today, they seek to be recovered by people who were dismissed from the case.
How does the shadow of the Cyclone case affect Jorge Hugo Reyes Torres?
His name, his reputation and that of his family were seen in between. There was no materiality of the crime as such. Therefore, there should not have been a responsibility in this case, but things have already happened. It is a stigmatized family in front of the Ecuadorian society.
You mention that there were things within the process with which you were convicted that do not match. Maybe you plan to sue the state?
Jorge Hugo is a wise person. After spending 21 years locked up, he wants to live in peace. He is not interested in suing the state. The only thing that interests him is to prove his innocence. We are analyzing the possibility of filing an appeal for review of the judgment in the Cyclone case.
Let’s talk a little about Dayra Levoyer, Jorge Hugo’s ex-partner, how did this case affect you?
In all respects to the point that they did not want to open a bank account even though she was dismissed. He had problems of a social nature, criticism. Countless things. But people only know part of the story. She does not know that she was involved in this because she was a partner of Jorge with whom she had four children. She was not his wife. They did not have a conjugal partnership. He was in prison for six years. Her daughter, a baby months after being born, was taken from her. All of his children were minors. It had a psychological affectation. She couldn’t see her children grow up. When he was released he started from scratch.
She has a sentence to recover a piece of land in Quito that is currently in the hands of the Police. How is this process progressing?
In the past, she was dismissed in all the processes that were imposed against her. Today we justify the origin of some goods. We have presented the certificates of liens for a piece of land in El Inca, in Quito and the judge for the execution of the sentence ordered the delivery. Now Real Estate must agree with the Police to indicate the day and time to sign the delivery receipt. There are two other lands to recover in Guayaquil.
What does Mr. Jorge Hugo Reyes Torres currently do?
To the production of milk, breeding and fattening of beef cattle. To the sowing and harvesting of African palm and commercialization of corn. Basically agricultural and agricultural issues.
Do you do that on your own farms?
He only has one property in his name that is in the Carcelén sector in Quito, which is currently occupied by Real Estate and which has not been returned. For his activities he rents the land to work it. (The company) Agrícola Industrial rents the land.
Isn’t it striking that the Agrícola Industrial estate, which was seized because it was initially related to the Cyclone case, rents the land to you?
The land he uses is owned by Agrícola Industrial and that company rents to a company owned by his children. They had nothing to do with the Cyclone case. In fact, as you must know, they were minors when this happened. Through the advice and guidance of their father, Jorge Hugo, they are dedicated to producing the land.
The Hacienda de San Antonio, located in Santo Domingo, who did it belong to?
To Agrícola industrial that was not owned by Mr. Reyes and that was not prosecuted for the Cyclone cases.
But wasn’t it in use by the ESPE?
It is difficult to understand. I explain. The hacienda, which is located at kilometer 38 and a half on the Quevedo-Santo Domingo road, is made up of several properties. Everything was handed over to the ESPE. The University used a portion to operate the Instituto Agropecuario Superior Andino (IASA). When the property was returned to Agrícola Industria, the ESPE, the IASA had to leave.
When was the farm recovered by Agrícola Industrial?
I don’t remember, but it was a long time ago.
Is this the farm that has a swimming pool, fields, satellite dish?
Yes
In the Ciclón case, why was the farm seized if Agrícola Industrial was not processed?
There are people who had nothing to do with it and so far cannot recover their assets. No judge bothered to analyze these facts. Agrícola Industrial was not part of the criminal process. Dayra Levoyer was the main shareholder of Agrícola Industrial. With the Code of Criminal Procedure it was not possible to prosecute legal persons. That seizure of the property, as a consequence of the dismissal (of Levoyer) and because it was not part of the Cyclone, was recovered.
Dayra Levoyer, who was then the main shareholder, is she still in that position now?
It is still the main shareholder. The problem is that this company is practically in the process of liquidation.
And do Jorge Hugo and his children work on the land that belongs to this company?
That’s how it is.
Have you ever talked about how you got the money to buy that farm before the Cyclone case?
That was the subject of a trial of front man, illicit enrichment and money laundering that was followed against Dayra Levoyer. Then, since the origin of the funds, money or properties had been justified, she was not called to trial.
How did she justify the purchase of this farm?
She was economically active at the time of the cyclone event. I don’t know the activity in detail but basically it already had its companies. It wasn’t just one.
