One of the most important cases of corruption in Medellinthat of alleged irregular contracts in the Metropolitan Area of the Aburrá Valley (AMVA), you could finish a good part of your processing by turning on the fan in the Prosecutor’s Office. This week it was confirmed that one of those involved has already been given a principle of opportunity, and that two others are asking for a lead with the same objective.
This is one of the chapters of alleged improper actions that were carried out in the administration of former mayor Daniel Quintero. In particular, the The Prosecutor’s Office investigates six contracts that from 2020 to 2022 would have been delivered irregularly in the AMVA for a value of 17,656 million pesos.
“All these contracts correspond to a value of 17,656 million pesos, contracts that according to the investigative process It has been possible to establish that they began directly, without the full legal requirementsviolating the principles of planning, transparency, economy, objective selection, by improperly directing these six contracts to the Itagüí fire department, money that was not properly managed, since there are cost overruns in billing by said entity, through invoices or collection accounts from people who were paid a lower value,” the Prosecutor’s Office explained last year.
The business was left in the hands of the Itagüí Fire Department, and its purpose would be train to manage the covid-19 pandemic. Last October, after several months of investigation, the prosecution launched a raid and arrested three people: Misael Cadavidformer fire brigade commander; Elkin de Jesús Gonzálezthe former legal representative; and María Yaneth Rúaformer supervisor of the Aburrá Valley Metropolitan Area.
Misael Cadavid, captured for alleged corruption Photo:Itagüí firefighters and private archive
The three were charged with alleged improper interest in the execution of contracts and embezzlement, charges they did not accept. However, since December Misael Cadavid, who was also manager of the La María Hospital, has been raising his hand to become a witness for the Prosecutor’s Office.
The negotiations
EL TIEMPO learned that after a negotiation, the Prosecutor Rodolfo Sánchez gave him a principle of opportunity at the end of March. The commitment he reached is that he will provide information that could complicate the situation of other people in various criminal proceedings. Product of the benefit, approved by Court 5 of Guarantee Control of Medellín, Cadavid left El Pedregal prison on March 25where he was detained.
Cadavid, Rúa and González. Photo:Private file
His former teammate Elkin de Jesús González wants to take that same route. In his case, there are already some fairly advanced approaches with the team of researchers. If good terms are reached, it would be necessary to present the principle of opportunity for a judge to review it.
One of the most innovative announcements is that María Yaneth Rúathe third person involved, is also seeking to dialogue with the authorities to tell what she knows and, if it is crucial to the investigation, she could receive a legal benefit, the scope of which is yet to be determined.
Misael Cadavid (upper left) in audience. Photo:Private file
The investigation into the alleged six contracts hand-delivered from the AMVA to the Itagüí firefighters had been led by the prosecutor Rodolfo Sánchezwho according to sources has greater experience in solving homicides.
However, this week another prosecutor appeared in court. It is about Magda Sofia Ramirezexpert in anti-corruption issues. This newspaper learned that Sánchez became a support prosecutor for that group due to administrative matters resulting from the merit contest that the Prosecutor’s Office held a few months ago.
The hearing against Misael Cadavid and the others captured. Photo:THE TIME
for this scandal The former director of the AMVA Juan David Palacio is accusedand the former environmental deputy directors Ana María Roldán and Diana María Montoya, who have pleaded innocent.
If the three benefits are granted to Cadavid, González and Rúa, there would be four those delivered by the Prosecutor’s Office in the corruption processes that are being carried out due to alleged mismanagement in the Quintero administration. Laura María Mejía Higuita has already achieved the beginning of opportunity and has been making important accusations against people like Miguel Quintero, brother of the former mayor.
Carlos López – @CarlosL49 – carben@eltiempo.com
