Ex-minister and embezzlement,corruption charges
THE FILING of a criminal complaint on Monday July 28 against former Minister of Labor Alma Cortés and her sister Lourdes Cortés for” alleged embezzlement and corruption is being followed up with a detailed audit of the Ministry’s books during her administration.
The complaint was filed by the secretary general of the Ministry of Labor and a CD , Member of the Central American Parliament.
A third complaint was filed against the Luis Alberto Gálvez “that claimed he had a “botella” (non existent job) that paid him $ 66,000
According to Rivera, after the first audits of the Cortés headed entity, it was found that the former minister and other officials had caused “injury” of around $300,000.
He explained that fuel expense totaled $ 187,000, as there were vehicles, according to records, usingup to $ 500 a day on gas.
The criminal complaint against Cortes and her sister is based, according to the secretary of Mitradel in two per diems for the same mission.
Rivera explained that the extra expenditure was between $6000 and $18,000 for an assignment that was not carried out in Europe and thus both officials should return the money over to the state reports La Prensa.
He added that the relevant authorities should proceed with the investigation into these cases.
On Wednesday, July 30 Rivera said that new audits will be performed on programs run by the agency to detect possible anomalies that took place under the administration of Alma Cortés.
Rivera, said the first audit determined that, during the management of Cortés, travel expenses were used incorrectly, a person was hired by the ministry who did no work and there was a misuse of fuel credits allocated to the entity.
Cortés has called the charges “political persecution” and has denied any wrongdoing.
Rivera said that Cortés will have the opportunity to explain her actions in court.
During her term in office there were frequent allegations of misuse of funds including a report that Sara Cortés Aguilar, sister of the then Minister of Labor, appears to be linked as a lawyer in two companies that had received training contracts amounting to $493,000.
Companies seem to have been “created” to avail themselves of the contracts.
One such company was hired just two months after its creation, to teach a course in “Basic English for tourism.” Minister Cortes said it was justified, as it is a daily activity of the lawyers who have expertise.
Another cited anomaly was the creation, of five companies in one day,
They were allegedly run from a single location, and had benefited from contracts for $2.4 million. Others, according to radio reports had given addresses which are in fact occupied by other companies.
