The Public Domain Forfeiture Prosecutor’s Office Public Ministry (MP) will request in a hearing to open the trial the extinction of ownership over various assets of the former Minister of Energy and Mines, Erick Archilawho is accused in the case called Mechanism of Corruption in the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM).
The MP’s investigation determined that a A high-profile criminal structure, made up of the former minister, a network of businessmen and several former officials, used the Ministry of Energy and Mines to obtain bribes and illicit economic benefits.
The MP seeks extinction of domain over the following assets of former Minister Archila.
- Deposit for US$1 million 003 thousand 969.77
- Deposit for Q4 million 565 thousand 985.82
- Deposit for US$860
- 2 properties in Pradera Zone, Business Tower
- Property in Alta Vista Mansions
- Kitchen furniture, stove, extractor fan, refrigerator, furniture, tables and chairs.
- 2 sculptures from the Republican Era
The information from the MP details that the investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office was carried out after the purchase of a property in Isla de Bahía, Pristine Bay, Honduras, related to Ingrid Roxana Baldetti Elías, former vice president of Guatemala, through the entity Conyers Bussines who paid monetary amounts for the acquisition of the property.
The Entity Conyers Bussines was sold to the former Minister of Energy and Mines Erick Archila on October 14, 2008, having an irregular tax behavior after spending 4 years after the purchase declaring sales income for services for a value of Q0.00.
However, in 2013 it presented a growth reporting sales for Q 33 million 343 thousand 791.00, establishing that, in the period that Archila was Minister of Energy and Mines, he declared suspicious income and expenses, a fact for which the Prosecutor’s Office initiates an investigation in the year 2016
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One of several sculptures that, according to the MP, were acquired by Erick Archila. (Free Press Photo: MP)
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The structure
The MP’s investigation determined the existence of a high-profile criminal structure, made up of former Minister Archila, a network of businessmen and several former officials, who used the Ministry of Energy and Mines to obtain bribes and illicit economic benefits.
The primary purpose of this structure, according to the investigation of the Special Prosecutor’s Office against Impunity, was the indirect obtaining of illicit economic benefits, under the political power of Archila within the Patriot Party government, according to the MP.
This allowed Archila to operate the organization from the Ministry of Energy and Minesthe National Institute of Electrification, as well as illicit businesses in the private sphere, according to the statement.
The prosecution announced that Archila was identified as the leader of this criminal organization that operated between 2012 and August 2016.
One of the 126 works seized from the former Minister of Energy and Mines, Erick Archila, and which are subject to verification. (Free Press Photo: MP)
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One of the 126 works seized from the former Minister of Energy and Mines, Erick Archila, and which are subject to verification. (Free Press Photo: MP)
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Archila was accused of illicit association, passive bribery, money laundering and concussion, but the former minister is free on bail in the United States, as he was detained by an immigration process.
Kickbacks and bribes
Erick Archila, according to the Feci, obtained illicit commissions in the period between August 2012 and April 2015. After receiving these gifts, Archila benefited from contracts and/or administrative resolutions. The entity that the Feci located within the investigation are Edemtec, SA; Petro Energy, S.A.; City Petén, S. de RL; and Hidro Xacbal, SA Likewise, Rony Ezequiel Gerardo Valdés Fonseca was an intermediary for the collection of commissions at least in these last two companies.
The bribes issued by these entities add up to Q75 million 700 thousand 811.07 plus US$477 thousand.
The Feci had explained at the time that Conyers Bussiness SA was a company that received illicit commissions for checks of various amounts.
It added that Archila acquired various works of art in Mexico valued at several thousand dollars, one of which was found during the raids.
Likewise, Archila bought, between March and November 2014, works of art by Guatemalan artists for a cost of Q1 million 779 thousand 510; watches, bracelets and jewelry that were acquired through Conyers Bussiness SA, valued at several thousand quetzales.
It also acquired television equipment, as well as a mobile unit valued at Q7 million 201 thousand.
The investigation also established that, among the bribes, on July 17, 2014, Conyers Business, SA made a transfer for the sum of 129 thousand 32 dollars, which served as payment for the purchase of Villa 02-53, which now it corresponds to villa 02-61, located in the sector called The Cove, in Crawfish Rock, Roatán, Honduras.
The money was transferred to North Shore Development of the Republic of Honduras, to acquire the villa for the then Vice President of the Republic, Ingrid Roxana Baldetti Elías.