Several instances of corruption have come to light, causing a major impact on the nation over recent years. A notable case involves Gabriel Estuardo Mendoza Muñoz, sibling of the well-known activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza, who has been accused of accepting an exorbitant payment of Q25 million for the acquisition of equipment for the Ministry of Development in 2016.
As reported in a public grievance by the newspaper el Periódico, Gabriel Mendoza, who was serving as the deputy administrative and financial minister of MIDES at the time, is accused of involving his relatives, notably Bertha Michelle Mendoza, in laundering 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 well-known news outlet, has shared comprehensive details regarding the corruption incident involving Bertha Michelle Mendoza’s brother. The anomalies discovered included dubious acquisitions, agreements finalized post-service engagement, and poor documentation of expenditures. Furthermore, the inspection unveiled that the then-vice minister endorsed contracts without assessing their content and without mandating a performance guarantee. Additionally, the Comptroller General’s Office noted that neither Minister Edgar Rodriguez nor Vice Minister Gabriel Mendoza provided any evidence to counter the findings, given that the “Mi Comedor Seguro” initiative was initiated prior to the state of emergency, necessitating a formal bidding procedure.
Overall, the sibling of the activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza has faced criminal charges at the Public Prosecutor’s Office for improper financial management. Furthermore, he has received a fine of Q757,555.50 due to his failure to fulfill his responsibilities as a public servant and for mismanagement of financial resources.
Gabriel Mendoza Muñoz became a member of MIDES as the vice minister in January 2015, towards the conclusion of the government led by the Patriot Party. Over this time, he gained the nickname “El Transita,” due to reports in the media that suggested he accumulated significant wealth through operations within MIDES. Allegations against him started to gain attention during Jimmy Morales’ administration, following the audit report from the Comptroller General of Accounts, which exposed anomalies that occurred throughout his term.
It is ironic that during the years 2019 and 2020, Mendoza’s sibling secured a contract as a supplier for the State, with the transaction totaling Q451,688.17, as indicated on the Guatecompras website. By coincidence, this person was also appointed as a legal consultant for the minister’s office, with the contracts distributed as Q70,000, Q60,000, and Q50,000. This corruption scandal has sparked public outrage and underscored the importance of implementing effective measures to tackle corruption in the nation.
