The Ruta del Sol scandal moved again. These are seven former officials of the National Infrastructure Authority (ANI) who, according to the public prosecutor’s office, approved five additions to Concession Agreement 01 of 2010, which provided for the construction of a 528-kilometer road section of the Ruta del Sol.
According to the prosecutor’s office, those involved who have already been brought before a judge are Alexandra Lozano Vergara, project and contract management manager; MarÃa Clara Garrido, administrative vice president; and Beatriz Eugenia Morales Vélez, Vice President of Structuring. In addition to the consultants Harbey José Carrascal Quintero, Marcelo Enrique Cano del Castillo, Mónica RocÃo Adarme Manosalva and Nora Patricia Acero Pérez.
According to the accusing body, the investigations revealed that these persons, in accordance with their individual responsibilities, planned, examined, processed and approved five additions to Contract 01 of 2010, which brought technical, legal and financial advantages to the concessionaire of which they were part of Construction company Odebrecht.
In addition, the defendants are accused, among other things, of illegal maneuvers to financially benefit the concessionaire, improve its cash flow and allow it to receive advance transfers without completing the project or obtaining loans.
The evidence shows that the Public Prosecutor’s Office verified that two of the others extended the deadlines for the execution of some project sections, allowing the concessionaire to avoid sanction proceedings and stop paying fines of over 35,883 million pesos for non-compliance.
In addition, according to the prosecutor’s office, it is believed that technical aspects and payment methods were changed, which allowed the concessionaire to access an advance of 17,823 million pesos to which it was not entitled and to achieve greater cash flow. This would have resulted in a financial impact on the ANI of more than P2,227 million.
The public prosecutor’s office accused the alleged perpetrators of the crime of undue interest in the performance of the contract, a charge that was not accepted by any of the defendants.
