Teachers and students of the School of Modern Languages of the UCV demand answers after discovering financial irregularities in the management of the Modern Language Foundation (Fundeim). Documents reveal that its directive managed funds in foreign currency without authorization. While investigations progress slowly, the academic community evaluates to go to other instances
A group of students and professors of the School of Modern Languages of the Central University of Venezuela denounce opacity in the management of resources of the Modern Language Foundation (Fundeim) after finding financial irregularities committed by the Directive.
Documents reveal that the directive of Fundeimchaired by Professor Carlos Saavedra, recently promoted to the Council of Scientific and Humanistic Development of the UCV; the academic deputy director, Gustavo Santamaría; and the Courses coordinator, Lucius Daniels, who was the previous director of the School of Languages, have handled «Funds in currencies without authorization, have carried out transactions without control and cannot justify the use of resources of the Foundation through accounts of accounts of accounts private companies (in the United States and in Venezuela) », explains a source to SuchWhich.
The complainants affirm that one of the most controversial points is the “liquidation or bonus delivery to the members of the Board of Directors for an amount of $ 45,000, approximately $ 15,000 for each, at the end of 2024, decision made without consultation or approval of the council of school ». They maintain that this action was carried out without following the corresponding administrative procedures and without notification to the university authorities.
In the same way, they report that they found in reports and balances the disappearance of a part of the money of the Foundation, an account in Venezuela and the account in the United States. From a special fund that had the Foundation, destined to the acquisition of a headquarters, which amounted to $ 120,000, there are only $ 80,000, without the authorities having given a clear explanation about the destination of the $ 40,000 missing, which were allegedly spent.
The group of students and professors, who demands explanations and transparency to the Directive of Fundeim, says that one of the most alarming findings is that Saavedra has a Zelle account that he used to receive payments in dollars, for language courses, without the Approval of the School Council. What catches the most is that this bank account was not in the name of Fundeim, but of a private company called RIMA CONSULTING, CORPof which Saavedra owns.
Registration of companies in the state of Florida
To this is added the existence of another company in Venezuela, called idiomatics, also owned by Carlos Saavedra and the directive of the Fundeim school, linked to financial movements of the Foundation.
Students and professors of the School of Modern Languages of the Central University of Venezuela (UCV) consider that, if not obtaining answers from the directive, they must go to other instances.
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Suspicious contracts and lack of transparency
Those who demand clarity in accountability say that the suspicions of mismanagement of money increased by discovering that the administrator and the lawyer of the Foundation also make up the directive of private companies in the US and Venezuela. One of those companies provides services for the UCV, which lights alarms on a low transparency management: it is the IDEMOMATICS company (which belongs to said Board of Directors) and offers academic management software at the Central University of Venezuela.
In addition, in the reviewed financial reports there are questionable expenses, such as payments for weeding in pharmacy sheds for an amount of $ 8,500, without clarity about the contracting procedures or the justification of the costs, which they consider a little transparent financial management.
Some members of that community, who denounce the irregularities, claim that financial and management reports have been requested since 2019, but that information has been incomplete and has been delivered with delays. They assert that the complaints have reached the higher instances of that house of studies, but they condemn that to date no concrete action has been taken to clarify the situation.
They also mention that a commission to investigate these facts was appointed, but indicate that, after more than four months, they have not yet submitted advances in the investigation of Professor Carlos Saavedra. “This situation generates greater uncertainty in the community of that school, which demands answers and measures to ensure good procedures, while the designation of a new director for the School of Modern Languages is expected,” says the source that talked with this medium.
*Journalism in Venezuela is exercised in a hostile environment for the press with dozens of legal instruments arranged for the punishment of the word, especially the laws “against hatred”, “against fascism” and “against blockade.” This content was written taking into consideration the threats and limits that, consequently, have been imposed on the dissemination of information from within the country.
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