Martinelli endorsed $100,000 donation to CD from foreign firm

Marco Alban Crespo, director of  Hidalgo & Hidalgo, an Ecuador  company under investigation for the failed Tonosi irrigation program made a $100,000 donation to the Democratic Change (CD) Party The check was endorsed by Ricardo  Martinelli.

The revelation came from Marco Alban Crespo in an affidavit  to the electoral  prosecutor  on Wednesday February 17 at the national police headquarters. He acknowledged making the donation, and said it wasn’t the only contribution to the party and individual candidates.

According to investigators, former President  Martinelli endorsed and deposited the H&H check. Citibank later closed the party’s accounts.

The day after making his affidavit Albán Crespo, was released  from preventive detention after  posting bail of $100,000.

Carlos Carrillo, lawyer for  Alban, said his client is in his residence and is banned  from leaving the country.

Alban is one of the 33 accused that will face a preliminary hearing on June 6  for the alleged crime of embezzlement in the Tonosí project.

H & H received an advance of $31 million for the realization of the plan, which was never completed.

The irrigation project was an idea conceived during the military dictatorship (1968-1989), but from the beginning was rejected by  the inhabitants of the area, because it would require the expropriation of their land.

The project was taken up during the Martinelli administration and awarded to H & H.

Last July, the Ministry of Agriculture announced its cancellation, after considering that it was not viable and the difficulties in its implementation.