The appointed Secretary of Justice does not recommend an EIF for former Senator Eduardo Bhatia

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The appointed secretary of Department of Justice, Domingo Emanuelli, together with the director of the Public Integrity and Business Division of the Comptroller, Wanda Casiano, did not recommend today the appointment of a Special independent prosecutor (FEI) against former senator al People’s Democratic Party (PPD), Eduardo Bhatia Gautier.

“This morning, Monday, January 25, 2021, a communication was sent to the members of the group to appoint an independent prosecutor (FEI) for Atty. Eduardo Bhatia Gautier, detailed in the case number 2020- 31-102-00043 ″Emanuelli said in a press release.

The complaint against Bhatia Gautier was filed on July 28, 2020 in the Department of Justice by the representative of the New Progressive Party (PNP), José “Quiquito” Meléndez, who then claimed that the former senator suffered illicit enrichment and illicit influence in promoting and approval of Law 72-2015 while leading the Upper House.

Meléndez claimed that Bhatia Gautier approved the legislation, even though he had connections from Electricity Authority (AEE) and the Urgent Interest Fund Corporation, known as COFINA. “The preliminary investigation carried out by the staff of the Public Integrity and Business Division of the Comptroller of the Department revealed that there are no elements of crime to justify the appointment of an EIF”the designated holder has been retained.

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