Scandal at the University of Cartagena over allegations of corruption

Allegations of corruption at the University of Cartagena continue. A professor, the project manager, the current rector and a candidate to head the most important institution in Bolivar are mentioned in an alleged clan to direct contracts and receive bribes.

The investigation of the events was carried out by W Radio, which revealed several audios of conversations in which those involved appear. Initially between Venancio Porras, project director of the U de C. and Jorge Álvarez, professor of engineering and who would be close to current rector Edgar Parra.

In the conversation it is clear that they talk about a contract, they refer to auditing, specifications, proposals, budget and previous studies that are part of the structuring of public procurement. Apparently, Alvarez asks Porras to send him the proposals.

“What do I do? If you give me those proposals and I check if you are complying with what the specification says, otherwise I will accommodate the specifications, so that it complies,” says Álvarez. In the conversation, he says that one of the activities must be changed, because they all comply and adds: “Send me the modified document according to the one who is going to win”.

In the conversation revealed by La W Radio, they talk about the money that is supposed to come to Parra, the re-elected rector since 2014, and who would be William Malkun, candidate for the institutional elections that will take place on April 28. “The money doesn't get to Parra and Parra by screwing with the Comptroller's Office. Do you know where Parra gets the money? What you do,” Alvarez tells him.

This conversation could be about an alleged targeting of contracts to choose contractors, who in turn hand over part of the resources in the form of bribe. In the audios they say that “small jobs leave more than anything”, they even refer to 50%.

In other audios revealed by the station, this April 13, between Porras and Álvarez, they discuss the appointment of an architect who would “unify budget availability” to avoid what they call capital flight.

In addition, how to avoid investigations by the authorities. “You must have 100 million saved there to defend yourself for any pod, the judge, the prosecutor. Those people with silver turn the arepa, we know that”, they say.

“On the occasion of the news published by some media, I would like to report that I will proceed to take appropriate legal action to investigate and clarify these facts,” rector Edgar Parra said in a statement after the audios quoted by the newspaper El Universal were released.

The rector of the U de C. also assured that he will report to the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation for a criminal investigation of the facts reported, in addition to the inquiry that must be made “the advisory office of Disciplinary Control of the institution to inquire whether there is participation of any public servant of the university”.

Malkun, who also appears in the audios and is a candidate for rector, told Caracol Radio that the audios were recorded in 2016 and are part of another candidate's strategy for rectory to affect his aspiration.

“I have had working relationships with both of them, but I don't have any interference in the contracting of works at the university. My role in the vice-rectory for extension from which I resigned was only to seek additional resources with different entities. Some think that with this kind of trickery they can catapult themselves to that position,” he assured that station.

Rector Parra hopes that activities will resume during Easter week, to meet with the legal team and make a new pronouncement.

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