The prosecutor Francisco Barbosa responded to EL COLOMBIANO regarding the accusations and why in some cases they come 12 years following the signing of the contract.
The first accusation, Mr. Prosecutor, is for the contract that was made for EPM to build Hidroituango. A contract that was signed in the eyes of the whole world, was celebrated by the House of Nariño, the Mayor’s Office, the Council, that is, it was not done under the table. Can we speak of a crime even though it is direct contracting between two public entities?
“The elements for the accusations in that case of the former governor Luis Alfredo Ramos, the former manager of IDEA Álvaro Vásquez, the former mayor of Medellín Alonso Salazar and the former manager of EPM Federico Restrepo, for the crime of improper interest in the conclusion of contracts. Everything will be explained by the prosecutor of the case in the hearings that will be public.
But it is that there are 12 years of execution of that contract. That contract was signed in front of everyone’s eyes, it was celebrated in the city, the control organisms of the time did not say that this contract might not be made…
“It is that the Prosecutor’s Office intervenes when there is an act that constitutes a crime, we do not have a preventive function. What the Prosecutor’s Office does is receive complaints and proceed to investigate. This investigation was in the Prosecutor’s Office when I arrived and it was completely disordered, and work began in the Prosecutors Unit Delegated to the Supreme Court. The Comptroller’s report was collected, which showed a series of elements that allowed us to start organizing the investigation. Many times the contracts are celebrated, many times there is a lot of public emotion, but…”.
But we propose it in the sense that it was signed in a transparent manner before society and it is strange that no one noticed at that time that it was a possible crime…
“But transparency and happiness ended in three accusations and nine people involved, who will have to face trial, because the Prosecutor’s Office found material evidence and physical evidence to do so. Much of the country’s problems in justice have to do with the delay of the processes. They say it comes from 2010 or 2012, and it’s true.”
In none of the three lines did they find theft from the treasury?
“In the case of the contracting of the auxiliary system for diversion of the Cauca River, we charge for the conclusion of the contract without complying with legal requirements and for embezzlement by appropriation in favor of third parties aggravated for two vice presidents of the Hidroituango project.”
What proof do you have of all this?
“You have to follow the hearings.”
You have spoken, Prosecutor, regarding a new accusation that would be enlisting…
“It has to do with additional environmental issues that the Prosecutor’s Office has, but with that, for us, everything related to Hidroituango would end, for now, since new complaints or elements may arise.”
Why did they take so long to get to this point, what happened to their predecessors?
“I do not go with the rearview mirror to know what happened in 30 years of the Prosecutor’s Office, because I have had to collect several pork rinds. All processes have dimensions and the complaints depend on when they arrive. Here it must be said that, in addition, the Comptroller’s report appeared, which is important. Each administration in the Prosecutor’s Office has its respective time”.
