In the last six months of 2024, Teams from the Comptroller General of Accounts (CGC) finished audits on 230 public institutions. The result of the inspection exercise left, in addition to administrative sanctions, the presentation of 47 complaints for doubts in the management of more than Q215 million.
Each of those cases was presented to the Public Ministry (MP), which must assign each file to the most suitable Prosecutor’s Office to begin the investigation process.
The result of the audits ended in the last semester of last year concluded that crimes that require a criminal investigation for apparent acts of corruption could be committed, extremes that MP investigation will have to confirm or rule out.
The total list of audits practiced at 230 public units was presented yesterday at the Central America Diaryin compliance with the internal norms of the CGC, which force to disseminate the results of the inspection exercises.
Of the 47 complaints that were filed by the auditors team, two ministries lead the list to contain the largest number of accusations.
The first is the Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS), which received 12 complaints. The accusations against that portfolio amount to Q36 million 534 thousand 773.68.
The second entity with the highest number of complaints was the Ministry of Education (MINEDUC), which received 11. The doubts around that portfolio are for an amount of Q4 million 41 thousand 937.45.
Other cases
The auditorium report also indicates to other State agencies that received less complaints, but doubts about the management of their funds are, at the discretion of the supervisory institution, considerable.
The Departmental Directorate of Integrated Health Services of Guatemala, Northeast Area, received two complaints for an amount of Q1 million 526 thousand 764.07.
The Ministry of Culture and Sports obtained a complaint for an amount that amounts to Q48 million 512 thousand 962.34, while the Ministry of Economy received another signal for Q33 million 798 thousand 814.16.
Likewise, the Guatemalan Institute of Migration (IGM) received a complaint for the apparent mismanagement of Q63 million, according to the case report controlled by the CGC.
Nine municipalities, two hospitals, two entities focused on housing projects, Railways of Guatemala, the Human Rights Attorney’s Office, the pension regime of the Quetzal Port Company and the Secretariat of Social Works of the President (SOSEP) are also among the institutions.
The CGC explained, through a statement, that the audits presented do not correspond exclusively to cases of 2024, since reports can be found previously, but that they barely came to an end.
Sanctions
Through a statement, the CGC explained that in addition to the presentation of the 47 complaints as a product of its inspection exercise, they also issued administrative sanctions.
These, in turn, represent an economic sanction that, according to audits data, amounts to a millionaire amount. “As a result of these audits, 932 administrative sanctions were issued that represent a total amount of Q67 million 496 thousand 753.66,” the CGC explained.
They also presented 25 charge formulations for a value of Q7 million 119 thousand 146.04, related to findings that could involve economic responsibilities by municipalities and other entities, the comptroller explained.
Complaints to the TSE
The CGC also filed complaints against authorities of the Supreme Electoral Court (TSE)cases that were subsequently prosecuted, that is, they were assigned a Comptroller Judge to coordinate the requirements of the investigation by the MP.
The two complaints to the electoral authority are due to events that occurred during the period of the 2023 general elections, related to the purchase of computer equipment and a computer system.
The TSE spent Q148 million for the acquisition of the Preliminary Electoral Results Transmission System (TREP), which, for consideration of the audits, could have been an overrated purchase, an extreme that must investigate the MP.
A similar practice was detected by the TSE when evaluating the purchase of a series of technological tools, which were also used in the last electoral event.
During the presentation of its annual report, the CGC explained the two complaints related to the TSE, but did not provide further details about those findings because now the cases are in control of the MP.