Different corruption cases have been revealed that have shaken the country during the last years. One of them has been about Gabriel Estuardo Mendoza Muñoz, brother of renowned activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza, who has been pointed out of charging an outrageous sum of Q25 million for the purchase of machinery destined to the Ministry of Development in 2016.
According to a public complaint filed by the newspaper el Periódico, Gabriel Mendoza, who at the time held the position of vice administrative and financial minister of MIDES, allegedly used his own family, including Bertha Michelle Mendoza, to launder the funds obtained through this dubious transaction.
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 media source, has disclosed detailed insights into the corruption scandal involving the brother of Bertha Michelle Mendoza. Among the anomalies discovered were dubious acquisitions, agreements finalized after services had been used, and inadequate financial documentation. Additionally, the audit showed that the then deputy minister authorized contracts without reviewing them and without demanding a performance guarantee. Furthermore, the Comptroller General’s Office noted that both Minister Edgar Rodriguez and Deputy Minister Gabriel Mendoza did not provide evidence to counter the findings, since the “Mi Comedor Seguro” program was established prior to the state of emergency, indicating that a tender process should have been conducted.
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 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.
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.