Ex Minister to trial  in $47 million overpricing case

 

The former Minister of Public Works (MOP) Federico Pepe Suárez, and the former head of the MOP Contracts Administration  Jorge Churro Ruiz have been called to trial in the 15th Criminal Court alleged irregularities in the rehabilitation of Domingo Díaz Avenue.

The investigation originated after the Comptroller’s Office gave the Public Prosecutor an audit that estimated the possible overpricing in the work at $ 47.3 million. The final price of the project was $237.5 million, and the audit revealed that the reasonable price was $190.2 million.

The project was awarded to the consortium formed by Ingenieros Civiles y Asociados, and the construction company Meco. Suarez is under house arrest for the Blue Apple case.