In a follow up to the story released recently that dug into major violations of the law in the contract the Mail Office (Inposdom) had signed with a foreign courier company, Nuria Piera releases information on an earlier job held by suspended incumbent Adan Peguero.
N Digital reports that an audit carried out by the Chamber of Accounts (CCRD) to the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD) university cafeteria in 2004 when Peguero was the administrator, revealed the overpricing purchase of several products.
According to the CCRD, the audit proved mismanagement in the UASD dining hall at that time, since the university overpaid suppliers more than RD$32 million, out of RD$93 million that were audited.
The CCRD audit revealed that when tomato sauce cost RD$950 a box on the market, Peguero’s team purchased this for RD$1,950 the box. A can of oil sold on the market for RD$900 and was purchased for RD$1,295. In the same manner, eggs were 61% overpriced, and sugar was 58% overpriced.
The Chamber of Accounts audit indicates that it had difficulties in obtaining the information required for the study.
Earlier this week, President Luis Abinader suspended the director of the Dominican Postal Institute (Inposdom), Adán Peguero, due to the investigation opened for alleged irregularities in the position after the Nuria Piera investigative report aired.
Through a decree, the Executive Branch announced Peguero’s suspension by means of Article 88 of the Civil Service Law, a provision that contemplates that the duration of the suspension will be up to 60 days, with pay.
The official committee that investigated the contract signed between Inposdom and the courier company Mia Cargo concluded on Monday, 8 November 2021 that the contracting was irregular and recommended the suspending of the contract and cancellation of Peguero and the legal consultant to the mail office.
According to the conclusions, released by the committee, “the signing of the first agreement under this type of illegal modality is dated 13 November 2008, between Modesto Guzmán, representing Inposdom, and the company Inversiones Tahití, S.A., which later became the agreement with the company name Mia Cargo Group”.
Despite the irregularities in the contracting, Peguero continued the contract when he took office in August 2020. The investigative committee says that Peguero added new participants and incurred in new violations of the law.
The investigation began after the airing of a Nuria Piera investigative report in which irregularities in the agreement were denounced.
Peguero has defended his performance saying he eliminated the Inversiones Tahiti intermediary and contracted directly with Mia Cargo Group. A high-ranking member of the ruling Modern Revolutionary Party (PRM), Peguero says he has nothing to hide.
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N Digital
12 November 2021