Designated Justice Minister Domingo Emanuelli Hernández, along with Director of Public Integrity and Auditor Affairs, Wanda Casiano Sosa, released a notice to the Bureau on the case against former Senator Eduardo Bathia Gautier.
Emanuelli Hernández indicated that a message was sent to panel members in the morning today not recommending the appointment of an Independent Special Prosecutor (FEI) for Bathia Gautier, detailed in case number 2020-31-102- 00043. Today a message was also sent informing the parties, complainant and accused of this recommendation.
The complaint was lodged with the Ministry of Justice on 28 July 2020 by Mr José “Quiquito” Meléndez, representative of the House of Representatives. The complaint alleges that attorney Bathia Gautier owns bonds from the Electric Power Authority (PREPA) and the Pressuring Interest Fund Corporation, known by the acronym COFINA, and that despite this, while serving as president of the Senate, was guilty of illegal enrichment and undue influence in promoting and passing Law 72-2015.
The complainant added that said legislation increased, among other things, sales and use taxes, strengthening COFINA’s treasury. Situation that in his opinion entailed a capital advantage for the attorney Bathia Gautier as bond holder of the aforementioned Corporation.
Preliminary investigation by staff of the Department’s Public Integrity and Auditor Affairs Department has shown that no elements of crime have emerged that warrant the appointment of an FEI.
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