Ecuador: alleged "clandestine party" investigated with officials

(CNN Spanish) -

The Minister of Government of Ecuador Gabriel Martínez reported this Sunday that he instructed the National Police to transfer the Ombudsman Freddy Carrión, and the former Minister of Health Mauro Falconí, suspected of incidents to the Flagrancy Unit of the Prosecutor's Office of violence in a "clandestine party" supposedly held at dawn this Sunday in an apartment in Quito, where, apparently, a woman was also present.

Carrión denied having participated in any clandestine party and Falconí's defense denied that his client had committed any crime.

Still, authorities maintain that the meeting was registered during the curfew and mobility restrictions in Quito.

The Attorney General's Office of Ecuador reported that "given the nature of the case, a prosecutor who is an expert in sexual crimes is leading the investigation," although it did not specify the reason for said investigation.

The Communication Department of the Prosecutor's Office told CNN that the victim is receiving "accompaniment" from the institution.

CNN contacted the Pichincha Police Department, which responds to the Ministry of Government, which reported that at dawn this Sunday the institution's staff received an alert about the holding of a "clandestine party" in an apartment in the north of the capital.

According to the institution, the personnel of the Police Station and the National Police went to the scene, confirming that they had found the Ombudsman Freddy Carrión and the former Minister of Health Mauro Falconí, who was in charge of the Ministry for two weeks and resigned at the beginning of April. of this year.

According to the authorities, there was also a woman who would be the partner of former Minister Falconí, according to the Police Department.

advertising

“It was found that when the police station entered the place together with the police, the woman indicated that she had suffered several attacks, that they pulled her by the hair, that she had even been sexually assaulted.

In addition, the two men had quite deep lesions on their faces (bruises) and there was excess alcoholic beverages on the site.

The three citizens were in an obvious alcoholic state, "the Administration informed CNN this Sunday.

Later, the Minister of Government Gabriel Martínez reported on Twitter that the Ombudsman Freddy Carrión is in a medical home where toxicological tests are carried out under police surveillance, while the former Minister of Health Mauro Falconí is in the Prosecutor's Office carrying out respective legal procedures.

Martínez insisted that "there are no privileges" in this case.

CNN contacted the Communication department of the Ombudsman's Office, which indicated that it would collect information about what happened.

Hours later, the Ombudsman's Office published a letter in its official social media accounts in which the defender Carrión reported that he is receiving care in a clinic for a "breakdown in his health."

He added that he had not been detained, despite the fact that the Ministry of Government indicated that he is under police surveillance.

“I must point out that I have not participated in any clandestine party as has been noted on social networks.

I had a meeting at the home of Dr. Mauro Falconí, with whom we shared a friendship for several years, "added the Ombudsman in the letter, which was deleted minutes after the institutional accounts.

The Communication Department of the Ombudsman's Office did not explain the reason for this to CNN, but indicated that it is waiting to publish a statement.

Carrión also reported in the letter that he requested a license to address this situation and collaborate with the investigations.

CNN also contacted Ludwing Álvarez, lawyer for the former Minister of Health Mauro Falconí, who pointed out that his client "has not committed any crime" and that his constitutional rights are being violated by keeping him detained in the Flagrancy Unit of the Prosecutor's Office.

After midnight, the hearing for the formulation of charges is scheduled to take place, as confirmed by the Prosecutor's Office to CNN.

Álvarez did not explain the reasons why incidents were generated at the former minister's home, but he did tell CNN that "this is not an issue" of his client but "of the other person", without clarifying who he refers to.

Several assembly members are calling for the impeachment and removal of the Ombudsman, Freddy Carrión, and condemn the alleged acts reported, which they have described as "execrable" and "intolerable."