Corruption, dubious billing practices denied by ex-administrator

AS AN AUDIT reveals details of dubious billing practices and of thousands of dollars worth of equipment (Ampyme) moldering in warehouses ,the former administrator of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises authority, rushed to deny corruption, and has launched libel cases against the new head of the entity.

The ex-administrator Giselle Burillo on Friday , November 29 reacted to the accusations made against her management of spending $40 million on the purchase of equipment, some of which still lies in warehouses rented by the State. at a cost of $33,000 a month
Burillo argues that the current Minister of Ampyme, Ada Romero, was building castles in the sky with these allegations because “last week the prosecution allowed four complaints against the officer for libel and slander,”reports La Prensa.
Following an audit conducted last Thursday, the Minister of Ampyme reported that during the administration of Burillo various companies received 10 contracts with the purchase order divided to bypass approval processes and shorten the time vendors had to submit proposals.
The audit showed that $175,000 purchases of a product were made and the next day the same supplier got another contract for the same amount.
Burillo contradicted thestatements saying that the largest amount in purchases during her tenure was for $ 250,000. “I am calm because I followed exactly the public procurement law,” she said.
“She (Ada Romero) will have to test all the farces and lies told about me. She wants to say I’m a corrupt woman and that I will not allow “Burillo said.
During the inspection by the Ampyme legal team the deposit located in the Curundú area found sewing machines, motorcycles, beauty kits and refrigerators among other products. Burillo argued that “all these purchases were made atpublic events to be delivered in the business opportunities program.”
However, says La Prensa, it belies the acquisition of these kits by private treaty, and the presence of the products in cellars for more than three years.
Currently the state pays about $ 33,000 a month for the storage of such equipment in warehouses located in Panama, Colon, Chiriqui and Veraguas.