The Court of San Juan found cause for arrest this afternoon for alleged violations of the Government Ethics Law and the criminal law that weighs against Sandra Torres Lopez, former president of Telecommunication office, which is selected to organize fundraising activities for former Governor Ricardo Rosselló during office hours.
Torres López’s former advisor, Katherine Erazo Garcia, which was also investigated by the Office of the Independent Special Prosecutor Panel (Opfei)However, he will not be prosecuted after he has reached a cooperation agreement with the investigative service.
Erazo García was the main person responsible for the fundraising efforts for the ex-president’s campaign.
Surprising twist: Former head of collections for former Governor Ricardo Rosselló teams up with FEI prosecutors in the case against former telecommunications chief Sandra Torres for soliciting political donations from companies she regulated. Torres is facing three charges. @RTLnieuws
– Luis Guardiola (@GuardiolaTwitt) April 8, 2021
A cause has been found against Torres López for alleged violations of sections 4.2 (b) and 4.2 (m), which prohibit, respectively, any civil servant from using his position to obtain benefits that are not legally permitted and from influence exercises on other employees who make political contributions or participate in political activities. The third charge against the former official concerns violation of Article 252 of the Criminal Code, which refers to the illegal use of public jobs or services.
Opfei reported that Judge Ileana Colón Blanco has imposed $ 45,000 bail on Torres López and has scheduled the preliminary hearing for April 21 at 10 a.m.
Last Monday, the president of the PFEI Nydia Cotto Vives, had expected the independent special prosecutors to file charges against the former employees today and hold a hearing on the reason for arrest.
A few months ago, Opfei indicated that the preliminary investigation report from the Ministry of Justice shows that Torres López during working hours Exel López Vélez, to organize a fundraiser for the re-election campaign of then Governor Rosselló. In addition, he allegedly ordered him to sell the lockers of the said activity to the trusted employees of the then Telecommunications Regulatory Board, the telecommunications companies regulated by the agency and the contractors of the government agency.