María de los Ángeles Duarte, who had worked in the administration of former President Rafael Correa, is currently being prosecuted for bribery, illicit association, and influence peddling, according to last week’s press release from Ecuador’s State Attorney General’s Office.
Prosecutors believe that more than 20 individuals are implicated in the corruption scheme, in which “businessmen or intermediaries allegedly delivered money - either in cash or through the crossing of invoices - to public officials in exchange for contracts with the State or other benefits,” the press release said.
The list of suspects includes ex-President Correa, Vice President Jorge Glas, and a number of former ministers and advisors, some of whom are described as “fugitives from justice.”
Judge Daniella Camacho issued an order of preventive detention against suspects in the country and asked Interpol for their assistance in locating and arresting the former president and ministers, according to El Comercio.
However, Interpol has denied these requests in the past.
Glas is still serving a six-year prison sentence for receiving bribes from Odebrecht, a Brazilian construction company, according to a Thursday article from El Universo.
In a Monday interview with journalist Orlando Pérez of the television network Telesur, Correa stated, “the idea is to take me to court for bribery, invent evidence where there is none, condemn me and prevent me from returning to my country. Keep dreaming, the people of Ecuador will teach you a lesson.”
