Crime

Courts Investigate Foreign Interests over Sales to Navy

Thursday, 22 July 2010 09:55

The Organized Crime Court is investigating various foreign companies after irregularities were found in transactions conducted by the Navy. Between 2007 and 2009 72 different transactions were made outside the normal process, costing US $5 million. The purchases were never finalized, but instead the cash was diverted elsewhere.

Among the irregularities were a US $600,000 crane and an engine test stand, being investigated by Judge Graciela Gatti and prosecutor Mónica Ferrero. According to a web page listing Government purchases, more than half of the transactions (47) were made by the CGA (Naval General Command). Sources at the Navy said that this occurs when the source of the product is outside Uruguay.

According to information obtained by the courts, the crane and engine stand were purchased from a US company. In neither transaction is there a record of actually receiving the product. Sources inside the court system indicate that there are at least ten additional suspicious transactions.

(www.observa.com.uy, July 22, 2010)

Minors Returned to INAU

Wednesday, 21 July 2010 09:32

Four minors who had escaped from INAU (Institute for Children and Adolescents of Uruguay) were returned to custody after having committed around 40 crimes between El Pinar and Paso Carrasco. According to police, they mugged pedestrians and robbed supermarkets, grocery stores, and service stations.

Within a matter of two months, police received reports in multiple precincts of minors with the same description. They carried firearms, rode motorcycles, and took money and belongings from their victims. After multiple attempts the police managed to capture the minors, along with two motorcycles, a 32 caliber pistol, and a 16 gauge shotgun.

(www.espectador.com, July 21, 2010)

Millionaire Maneuver in the Navy Discovered

Tuesday, 20 July 2010 09:58

The research led by Judge in organized crime, Graciela Gatti, uncovered a move that had been made since 2000 in the Navy in which they spent millions of dollars in non-existent purchases. The Court determined that it involved at least a dozen officers from admirals to lieutenants.

The exercise could involve embezzlement of between $ 3 million and $ 5 million a year because each year a dozen "exception purchases" are made. This item has no shopping spending limit and requires no accountability.

According to documents in the possession of justice, a hydraulic crane and an engine test bench were purchased for $ 8 million and $ 4 million, respectively, but are not in any division of the Navy. Two frigate captains who collected the checks in the Republica Bank were identified and charged. One of them said that they gave the money to their superiors.

Gatti ordered the investigation to be conducted by the new office in organized crime at the Ministry of Interior that has national reach and depends of Interpol. There, about 20 people made statements so far. Yesterday was the turn of former Chief Commander of the Navy, Juan Fernandez Maggi. Other former commanders in chief of the Navy will have to make statements. Some of the officers who testified claimed due obedience to carry out orders on the purchases.

After completion of the interrogation reports will be handed to the judge and the sailors will respond to Justice in organized crime who has jurisdiction over cases of corruption.

(www.observa.com.uy, July 20, 2010)

70 Prisoners Apprehended with Arms or Drugs During 2010

Wednesday, 07 July 2010 09:39

In the next few days, the government will send to Parliament a proposal to utilize 600 soldiers for coverage at the 28 Uruguayan prisons. They will be responsible for controlling access to the prisons, including prison staff. The measure was triggered by the apprehension of 70 prisoners with drugs or weapons thus far in 2010.

A Ministry of the Interior spokesperson told the newspaper El País that the government has lost faith in the prison staff due to the latest episodes of prisoners being found with drugs and weapons. Additionally, prison staff members were charged with bribery for allowing prisoners to escape. The goal is to improve controls at access points with military intervention, using the latest in detection technology.

Police sources admitted that the entry of drugs and weapons is related to corruption in the police force, pointing his finger at prisoner relatives who are bribing the guards. During the past year they also uncovered three attorneys who were attempting to smuggle drugs, weapons, and money into the prisons. Members of ONG (Non-Governmental Organization) were also caught trying to smuggle weapons inside a kitchen cabinet.

President José Mujica said that the prison situation is “sad”, and indicated that the Ministry of the Interior will take measures necessary to obtain the best possible level of security inside the prisons. The vast majority of the prison staff have nothing to do with the lapses of a very few, but security must be improved.

The Senate is also discussing another proposal that would permit the government to temporarily house prisoners at military installations. It would also authorize the government to hire 1,500 additional prison employees,

(www.elpais.com.uy, July 7, 2010)

Uruguayan linked to "the suitcase case" was deported

Wednesday, 30 June 2010 10:15

Uruguayan Rodolfo Wanseele Paciello is one of the five defendants in the "suitcase scandal" for conspiring and acting in the U.S. as an agent of the Government of Venezuela. Wanseele Paciello, 43, was deported and arrived today in Montevideo from Miami International Airport in Florida, after serving almost two years in prison in the United States.

The accused was related to the "suitcase scandal" in wich $ 800,000 in cash were supposedly sent by the Venezuelan Government to covertly contribute to the campaign of the Argentinian president, Cristina Fernandez. Seized funds allegedly came from the coffers of the state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) and the U.S. authorities accused Wanseele to participate with the Venezuelan Antonio Canchica Gomez, in a cover-up of the origin of money while in U.S. territory.

Wanseele entered the U.S. on September 24, 2007, through Miami with a nonimmigrant visa H-1B. According to court documents he was met at the airport in Miami by Canchica Gomez, who held several meetings in the U.S. with Antonini Wilson, the Venezuelan-American businessman who was finally intercepted the money.

(www.observa.com.uy, June 30, 2010)