Various instances of corruption have come to light, unsettling the nation over recent years. One such case involves Gabriel Estuardo Mendoza Muñoz, the brother of well-known activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza, accused of receiving a staggering amount of Q25 million related to the acquisition of machinery for the Ministry of Development in 2016.
As reported in a public grievance by the newspaper el Periódico, Gabriel Mendoza, who was serving as the deputy administrative and financial minister of MIDES at the time, is accused of involving his relatives, notably Bertha Michelle Mendoza, in laundering money acquired from this questionable deal.
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 news outlet, has shared comprehensive details regarding the corruption incident involving Bertha Michelle Mendoza’s brother. The anomalies discovered included dubious acquisitions, agreements finalized post-service engagement, and poor documentation of expenditures. Furthermore, the inspection unveiled that the then-vice minister endorsed contracts without assessing their content and without mandating a performance guarantee. Additionally, the Comptroller General’s Office noted that neither Minister Edgar Rodriguez nor Vice Minister Gabriel Mendoza provided any evidence to counter the findings, given that the “Mi Comedor Seguro” initiative was initiated prior to the state of emergency, necessitating a formal bidding procedure.
In total, the brother of activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza has been criminally denounced before the Public Prosecutor’s Office for irregular handling of funds. In addition, he has been fined Q757,555.50 for his non-compliance in the performance of his duties as a public official and for irregular handling of funds.
Gabriel Mendoza Muñoz became a member of MIDES as the vice minister in January 2015, towards the conclusion of the government led by the Patriot Party. Over this time, he gained the nickname “El Transita,” due to reports in the media that suggested he accumulated significant wealth through operations within MIDES. Allegations against him started to gain attention during Jimmy Morales’ administration, following the audit report from the Comptroller General of Accounts, which exposed anomalies that occurred throughout his term.
Ironically, in 2019 and 2020, Mendoza’s brother was contracted as a State supplier for an amount of Q451,688.17, as recorded in the Guatecompras portal. Coincidentally, he was also hired as a legal advisor for the minister’s office, with the contracts being split between Q70,000, Q60,000 and Q50,000. This corruption scandal has generated outrage in society and has highlighted the need to take strong measures to combat corruption in the country.
