The Attorney General of the Republic (FGR) formally accused before a federal judge Ishmael Eugenio Ramos Floreswho was the finance secretary of Coahuila in the government of Ruben Moreira Valdez (2011-2017), due to an alleged misappropriation of resources for approximately 475 million pesos of the Financial Recovery Fund (Fortafin), in a scheme identical to that of the so-called “Operation Sapphire”.

The initial hearing binding the process began yesterday in federal court based in Coahuila and concluded this morning. Ramos Flores, who took office on February 20, 2014, was charged by the FGR with the crime of embezzlement and illicit use of attributions and powers in the exercise of his position in the administration of Moreira, who is today coordinator of the federal deputies of Le pri.

The federal judge found that there was enough initial evidence to presume that the crimes had been committed and that the accused could be involved, so that ordered to link it to the process and gave another three months of investigation at the RGF. As a precaution, Ramos Flores’ passport was withdrawn so that he wouldn’t leave the country, nor was he asked to leave the city.

The prosecution indicates that the 475 million pesos were embezzled by 15 simulated contracts for the provision of services such as courses and consultations. During the hearing, prosecutors presented evidence that the contracted services were performed improperly.

The investigation was carried out by the FGR Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office following a complaint by the Ministry of Public Administration (SFP) for mismanagement of Fortafin, a federal fund created by the government of former President Enrique Peña Nieto and allocated on a discretionary basis to the States from the Budgetary Policy and Control Unit (UPCP) of the Ministry of Finance (SHCP).

This same fund was allegedly used to triangulate millions of pesos of public resources between the SHCP, the government of César Duarte in Chihuahua and the National Executive Committee (CEN) of the PRI to illegally finance the PRI’s electoral campaigns, a diversion mechanism dubbed “Operation Safiro,” according to an investigation opened by the Chihuahua attorney general’s office in 2016.

Lee: The court will decide whether to recognize Chihuahua as the victim of a 250 million peso embezzlement

During his tenure as Finance Secretary of Coahuila, Ramos Flores managed nearly 3 billion pesos authorized by the UPCP directed by Isaac Gamboa Lozanoformer collaborator of Luis Videgaray involved in “Operation Saphir” and who was murdered with his family in May 2020.

According to Treasury reports obtained by political animal, Ramos Flores signed four Fortafin agreements for 477 million pesos throughout 2015; in 2016 the figure tripled and signed nine agreements for 1 thousand 413.8 million, and in 2017 it signed seven more agreements for 1 thousand 046.6 million.

In 2016, the year in which the Moreira collaborator received the largest amount of resources from Fortafin, there were elections in several states -12 governorates were at stake-, and it was also the year in which the embezzlement of resources for Chihuahua’s “Operation Sapphire”.

In 2017 there were elections in Coahuila for the renewal of the post of governor, which was again in the hands of the PRI with Miguel Riquelme.

In addition to Ramos Flores, the FGR is investigating Antonio Zerón Puga, former Director General of the Ministry of Finance, and Nazaro Salvador Iga Torre, former Director of Acquisitions, only these two former officials have not yet been charged before a judge. The inquest also included Edgar Julián Montoya de la Rosa, who was undersecretary for spending and administration and died in 2018.

These are not the only Coahuilens who have been implicated in the “Safiro” affair. Witnesses collaborating with the Chihuahua prosecutor’s office named former PRI secretary Alejandro Gutiérrez Gutiérrez, “la Coneja,” as an intermediary for the PRI’s CEN, SHCP, and PRI state governments.

According to the investigation of the prosecutor’s office of this State, in 2016, 250 million pesos were diverted from the Ministry of Finance of César Duarte through rigged contracts for the alleged teaching of courses and workshops and for the acquisition of ‘a Software.

Prosecutors concluded that the services were not provided and that the “deliverables” were fabricated. To carry out the hijackings, shadow companies commissioned by Alejandro Gutiérrez, of Coahuila, were allegedly used, according to statements by protected witnesses.

The resources diverted in “Operation Saphir” came from a Fortafin agreement for 275 million pesos signed by Duarte’s finance secretary, Jaime Herrera, and the Treasury’s UPCP led by Isaac Gamboa.

This agreement was firmed in the oficina de Gamboa on the 15th of 2016. This mismo día acudió el Tesorero de Moreira, Ismael Ramos Flores, subscribed to an idéntico convenio al de Chihuahua, también por 275 million pesos, según informe de Hacienda obtentionidos by this way.