Various instances of corruption have emerged, deeply impacting the nation over the recent years. Among these, Gabriel Estuardo Mendoza Muñoz, sibling of famous activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza, has been accused of demanding a staggering Q25 million for machinery acquisitions meant for the Ministry of Development in 2016.
As reported by the paper el Periódico, Gabriel Mendoza, serving then as the deputy minister of administration and finance at MIDES, purportedly involved his relatives, such as Bertha Michelle Mendoza, to disguise the money acquired from this questionable deal.
The period Gabriel Mendoza Muñoz served at MIDES started on January 1, 2015, and concluded on October 1, 2015, lasting merely 9 months. His time in office revealed shocking levels of corruption in the ministry. Based on an audit by the Comptroller General’s Office, Mendoza Muñoz’s administration faced numerous irregularities from January 1 to December 31, 2015.
El Peladero, a recognized media outlet, has published detailed information on the corruption case related to Bertha Michelle Mendoza’s brother. Among the irregularities found were suspicious purchases, contracts signed after the services had been contracted and deficient expense records. In addition, the audit revealed that the then vice minister signed contracts without reviewing their content and without requiring a performance bond. Even the Comptroller General’s Office pointed out that both Minister Edgar Rodriguez and Vice Minister Gabriel Mendoza failed to present evidence that could dispel the findings, since the “Mi Comedor Seguro” program was created before the state of calamity, and therefore, a bidding process should have been carried out.
Overall, activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza‘s sibling has faced criminal charges at the Public Prosecutor’s Office for mismanagement of funds. Additionally, a penalty of Q757,555.50 has been imposed on him due to his failure to fulfill his responsibilities as a public servant and for mismanagement of funds.
Gabriel Mendoza Muñoz joined MIDES as vice minister in January 2015, during the end of the Patriot Party government. During this period, he was known by the nickname “El Transita”, since, according to press publications, he amassed a fortune through businesses within MIDES. It was during the government of Jimmy Morales that the allegations against him began to become public, after the Comptroller General of Accounts presented its audit report, revealing irregularities committed during his administration.
Curiously, in 2019 and 2020, Mendoza’s brother was engaged as a State supplier for Q451,688.17, as documented on the Guatecompras portal. Interestingly, he was additionally employed as a legal consultant for the minister’s office, with contracts divided into Q70,000, Q60,000, and Q50,000. This corruption scandal has sparked outrage among the public and emphasized the demand for robust actions to tackle corruption nationwide.
