The Public Ministry is immersed in a civil war for powerpromotions to supreme, survival of prosecutors and control of the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
The most visible battles take place between the prosecutors of the specialized corruption and money laundering crimes. But are not the only ones. Others, inside and outside the institution, move in the shadows.
Each side has some right and wrong. Good wishes and aspirations. Bad habits. ANDThe provincial prosecutor for corruption cases Reynaldo Abia he says it’s about egos, misgivings and mistakes that he finds disunited.
fair grounds
To understand the conflict, it is necessary to explain the reasons that move one and the other: the promotions to chief prosecutor and, therefore, the possibility of being the future prosecutor of the Nation.
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Today there are three vacancies for the incumbent Supreme Prosecutor, after the dismissal of Pedro Chávarry, Tomás Gálvez and Víctor Raúl Rodríguez for the case of the White Necks of the Port.
On December 9, 2021, the National Board of Justice (JNJ) called for a contest to elect two new incumbent Supreme Prosecutors. The contest is scheduled to end in May 2022, but could take longer.
The third quota would be occupied in a contest that would be held in mid-2023. The thing is that there are many applicants.
One of those candidates is the incumbent superior prosecutor Rafael Ernesto Vela Barba. In his capacity as coordinator of the money laundering prosecution offices and the Lava Jato Special Teamuntil a few months ago, he was fixed for promotion, but the delay in trials and the lack of convictions makes him lose points.
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In judicial media it is commented that the Board did not want to put the third vacant place out to tender to wait for it. In order for an incumbent superior prosecutor to be promoted to supreme he needs a minimum of ten years of service. Beard Candle He was appointed top prosecutor on July 26, 2013, so he will only meet that requirement in July 2023.
Another serious growing contender is the incumbent superior prosecutor Omar Tello Rosalesbased on the good work carried out as the national coordinator of specialized anti-corruption prosecutors.
Tello Rosales He was appointed chief prosecutor on April 25, 2013. That is, like Vela, he will be fit in 2023. Unlike Vela, Tello can show convictions for corruption crimes. Thus, Vela would have the support of the media and Tello, visible results to show his evaluators.
But they are not the only candidates. In the current contest there are 21 prosecutor candidates, many of whom will try again in 2023. Hence, the conflict has spread to the current candidates, such as the superior prosecutor and the current provisional supreme prosecutor. Maria Isabel Sokolich Alva.
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Sokolich’s fake WhatsApp with Omar Tello is not by chance Nor do they have a desire for cleanliness. It seeks to affect the honorability and the possibility of it, since said prosecutor is a serious candidate to be promoted and be the next prosecutor of the Nation, upon reestablishing the Board of Supreme Prosecutors.
a break-in
In this context, on January 8, 2022, the prosecution for corruption cases raided the department of Janet Talaveraformer communications manager of the Public Ministry and current communications advisor to the president of the National Election Jury.
The case became known after Pedro Salinas, whose house in Mala was also raidedaccused the Sodalicio of being behind the fiscal decision.
The truth is that the diligence was carried out in an investigation by prosecutor Reynaldo Abia into a Media Training contract with the consulting company CHISAC, in 2017, under the management of Pablo Sánchez. The initial complaint included Pablo Sánchez. The National Prosecutor’s Office filed a file on him and the investigation is carried out against lower-ranking officials.
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For the seizure of computer equipment, the Prosecutor’s Office has software that allows you to search for keywords. That was done with the Talavera teams. That same morning, someone alerted Rafael Vela that his name would have been one of those that was searched for in the computer equipment. Abia’s office denies it.
The Republic knows from a good source that Rafael Vela called the office of the National Prosecutor to complain, threatened to go out to the press and hold Zoraida Ávalos responsible. They told her that she was on leave and that at that time her place was occupied by Pablo Sánchez.
The former prosecutor of the Nation also felt affected. Paul Sanchez He attributed it to officials and prosecutors who work with Dr. Ávalos who do not want her to leave office, to continue in their positions.
In a normal situation, that raid should not have taken place. Abia has clarified that he considers that in the fight against corruption there can be no untouchables. He thought it appropriate to raid the apartment of a former Public Ministry official. Every day raids are carried out against ordinary people and nothing happens.
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effective collaboration
Vela was uncomfortable. The opportunity to fight back, the sources say, came weeks later. In February, lawyer César Nakazaki called him to coordinate the collaboration of karelim lopez.
In December, prosecutor Luz Taquire began an investigation reserved for López and other characters from the environment of the President Pedro Castillo for money laundering.
Despite being a secret investigation, López found out. How? Nobody knows. But Nakazaki decided that it was time to become an effective collaborator, despite the fact that she claims she has not committed any crime.
In the Public Ministry they say that this was perfect for Vela’s interests. The Lava Jato case no longer gives him to stay on the public stage any longer. You need a new case, for new precautionary measures, preventive prisons and leaks to the press.
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A trial of the current president is perfect for the prosecutors to show off. Coincidentally, the aspiring collaborator mentioned to Zoraida Avalos and Omar Tello. He doesn’t single them out for wrongdoing, but it was enough to strike back. What Karelim says is not even possible to prove. In a normal situation, prosecutors point out, that would not have been included in the minutes. But it was included and publicized.
Moreover, the money laundering prosecutors have allowed Nakazaki to say that the anti-corruption prosecutors refused to accept López as a collaborator, that they later leaked his statement and are responsible for the threats he received.
Chance. Karelim López, a collaborator without crimes. Photo: diffusion
The fiscal Karla Zecenarro He has asked the prosecutor Taquire to clarify the lawyer. She found out about the statement from the press. There was never a communication to other prosecutors before February 25. But the Vela team is silent. That affects the credibility of anti-corruption prosecutors.
That is why the cell phone seized from Janet Talavera has become relevant again. There would be communications with Rafael Vela during the last electoral process. There is talk of exchanging drafts of draft electoral resolutions. That could be tested.
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“You have to put aside misgivings and work together”
“There is an atmosphere of distrust and suspicion. Prosecutors do not trust each other and that is taken advantage of by people who want to see the Public Ministry disunited. We need a leadership that unifies the institution. Mistakes may have been made, but they see ghosts and in their fear they leak statements without evidence or private communications that only increases mistrust. You have to trust and work together,” says prosecutor Reynaldo Abia.
Abia was the only prosecutor who wanted to testify for this note. The Republic requested, through the press office, to interview prosecutors Rafael Vela and Jose Domingo Perez. We got no response. Prosecutor Omar Tello is on leave for a personal matter.
Jury
Memory. Janet Talavera denies the existence of an exchange of projects with prosecutor Vela. There are only private messages with journalists, she says.
Elections. The story that circulates says that Vela would have reviewed the draft resolutions of the JNE. “That does not pass through my hands,” insists Talavera, “I could not share them with him or with anyone.”
