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(CNN Spanish) - After a series of raids in Guayaquil and Quito, the Ecuadorian Attorney General's Office reported on Monday the arrests of 16 people as part of an investigation for “possible price premium” in the purchase of body covers for US $ 872,000 .
According to the Prosecutor's Office, four people were detained for the formulation of charges in the next few hours and another 12 people for investigations and to collect indications related to the purchase of the covers for the Los Ceibos Social Security Hospital in Guayaquil.
The Ecuadorian Social Security Institute said in a statement that the purchase was made "with complete transparency" under the modality of "contracting in an emergency situation" in the context of the coronavirus pandemic. The acquisition consists of 4,000 body bags
The IESS said there were four offers submitted with an indicated value for each from US $ 148 to US $ 160 and that a commission analyzed and recommended the "most beneficial offer" for the hospital based on cost and technical specifications.
Jorge Wated, head of the task force for the removal of bodies in Guayas, appointed by President Lenín Moreno, said that according to consultations with a private clinic and the Criminalistics Department, a bag to pack corpses can cost between US $ 12 and $ 26.50.
"I have consulted a private clinic and the value they pay is US $ 26.50, Criminalistics between US $ 12 and US $ 15, I have searched the internet and still cannot find anything in US $ 148, nor in 100, nor in 90, not 80, etc., ”Wated warned.
CNN contacted the IESS Communication department to consult the institution about the discrepancy in the cost of body bags and replied that the contracting process "is under review" and that the IESS is awaiting the guidelines that should be taken for this matter by Jorge Wated, the new delegate of President Moreno to the IESS Board of Directors appointed this Monday.
The president wrote on his Twitter account that his government will not allow acts of corruption. "Whoever that fails. I demand the full weight of justice for those who steal public money in purchases of medical supplies and even more seriously, taking advantage of the pain of others in the emergency, "he said.
CNN consulted the Comptroller General of the State about this purchase, which monitors the contracting processes during the health emergency and the Communication Directorate indicated that the institution performs a special examination at the Hospital de Los Ceibos, which includes the pre-contractual, contractual process and execution for the acquisition of goods, services, consultancies, medicines, supplies and medical equipment. The Office of Communication of the Comptroller also indicated that the institution will rule in more detail when it has the results of the special examination.