Drug dealer José Adolfo Macías Villamar, aka Fito, the bloodthirsty boss who unleashed a wave of terror and instability in Ecuador two weeks ago, is not the only citizen of this country wanted by justice. He said he would hide in Colombia.
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At the hearing at the Ecuadorian Court of Justice on Wednesday, January 10, The Prosecutor’s Office of that country requested that the arrest warrant for a former senior official be notified to Interpol Government of former President Rafael Correa
In fact, the Ecuadorian attorney general Diana Salazar, former official between 2012 and 2018 – juicy transfers and deposits into their accounts without being able to explain their origin.
Salazar stated Javier Córdova Unda, Minister of Mines in the Correa government. According to the prosecutor, Córdova increased his wealth by more than $1.2 million while serving in this position.
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Judicial authorities told When it was believed that some of these funds were deposited in Colombia, Judge Javier Rodríguez was asked the following question, based on the evidence: He requested the Criminal Division of the Court of Justice to arrest him while the case was ongoing.
The ex-minister’s immigration movements show that he is moving between United States, Canada and Colombia.
Spokesman of the miners’ association from El Bagre (Antioquia) He told this newspaper that they had recently held meetings with him in town and at a luxury office in El Poblado. In fact, it was confirmed while in Medellín who owned this property and the high-end vans in which it traveled.
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“Ours too Seen on farms in Zaragoza and the mining peaks of Bajo Cauca. “It tells us that this represents a family sharing package,” he added.
Ecuadorian Prosecutor’s Office He is interested in this information because he believes that money was transferred through payments that the former minister could not justify. Cash, checks and transfers to third parties with alleged commercial and corporate relationships.
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The accusations surprised a segment of Ecuadorian society who reassured: Córdova is a member of a prominent family and a promising politician. But the judicial decision also affected a well-known business group headquartered in Canada that mines gold in Bajo Cauca.
EL TIEMPO investigated the incident and after leaving the Correa government (in 2018), Córdova began to break into the big leagues of the gold industry. In 2020, he became the CEO of the Canadian company Soma Gold.
The company has operations under its name in Colombia. Operadora Minera SAS, which has properties in Nechí and El Bagre, of which the former minister is the legal representative. But everything changed on Wednesday, January 10, the day his arrest was requested.
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An extraordinary congress As the investigation progressed, the company removed her from her position and replaced her with Carolina Flórez.The person who told this newspaper that he has no family ties to Ecuadorians.
Córdova was also suspended Zara Holding focuses on gold mining business and other precious metals in the same region, affiliated with the same Canadian multinational.
What is known so far is that the multinational company, which is listed on the Canadian Securities Exchange, A statement in which the Ecuadorian assured that he resigned voluntarily and temporary, as long as he clarifies his judicial situation.
EL TIEMPO was contacted C. Geoffrey Hampson, new president of the companyAssoc. Prof. stated that Soma gives full support to Ecuador.
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“He did something We did a very good job in our operation in Colombia and we hope that the investigation will be completed and he will be cleared. “We understand that you will need to spend time resolving these issues, and we will assist you,” he said.
And I add: “Javier explained the situation and was transparent. “He told the company the allegations were false.”
When asked by EL TIEMPO whether the former minister had shares in any of these companies, Hampson replied: “I assume you own a small amount of stock and have stock options As part of the compensation package.”
In any case, He emphasized that the company was conducting an internal investigation, and although there were no resultsIt appears that the legal process was not respected, as the decision to arrest him was made at the very beginning of the case.
(See all articles of EL TIEMPO Investigation Unit here).
Until now, Former president Rafael Correa did not come to talk about the process against his former minister. However, there are rumors in Ecuador that Córdova may be hiding in one of the properties he frequently visits in Medellín, as well as in properties in Colombia.
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Source: Exame
