The former legal director of the Ministry of Youth, José Manuel Vidal Tejeda, has presented details of irregularities at the Ministry of Youth to anti-corruption authorities of the Abinader government. He was fired recently. He said he was dismissed for denouncing “an undue act, indelicate and that could also lead to its being categorized as one of corruption.”
The former official deposited on 15 November 2021 before the Specialized Prosecutor’s Office for the Prosecution of Administrative Corruption (Pepca) a complaint about the irregularities allegedly incurred by the Youth Minister Luz del Alba Jiménez. He expressed his hope that the participants he points out be called to give explanations. He denounced violations to Procurement Law 340-06.
Tejada has accused the husband of the Minister of Youth of being the person in charge of manipulating the purchasing processes at the Ministry of Youth.
In the report sent to the General Procurement Agency (DGCP), the Ethics and Government Integrity Agency (DIGEIG) and the Comptroller General of the Republic, Vidal Tejeda pointed out that irregularities were incurred in a bidding process in which the companies Gretmon and SketchProm were irregularly awarded.
The former legal consultant says contract for RD$3 million was awarded to companies under direct orders of the minister of Youth.
Shortly after the complaint was known, the Ministry of Youth issued a statement saying that the contracting had been cancelled. Youth Minister Jimenez told the press she would await the results of the investigation into the claim.
Luz del Alba Jimenez took over the Ministry of Youth after the resignation of Kimberly Taveras, who was under investigation by the Attorney General’s Office. The Public Prosecution was asked to investigate how she had obtained such extraordinary wealth at her young age and despite having been only the mayor of a small town. The case did not advance and Taveras has kept a low profile since then.
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Listin Diario
Hoy
17 November 2021