Ecuador prosecutor includes mayor's wife, mother in money laundering case

The legal net is tightening around Guayaquil's jailed mayor, Aquiles Alvarez, a prominent opposition figure to President Daniel Noboa. Ecuador's prosecutor's office has now included Alvarez's wife, mother, and two cousins in a money laundering investigation, expanding the scope of the "Goleada" case.

“

the use of shell companies domiciled in Panama to obtain undue economic benefits through the resale of subsidized diesel at international market prices, which would have allegedly caused damage to the State estimated at about 100 million dollars.

Prosecutors allege that a network, including the mayor's family and associates, used shell companies registered in Panama to illegally profit from the resale of subsidized fuel. This scheme is believed to have defrauded the state of approximately $100 million. The family's involvement suggests a potential broadening of the alleged illicit operation beyond the mayor and his brothers.

“

the wife of Alvarez, Fiorella Icaza; the mayor's mother, Gioconda Henriques; two cousins, another person, and nine companies, considering that they allegedly formed part of this network.

Specific measures are being sought against the newly implicated individuals. The prosecutor requested that Alvarez's wife, Fiorella Icaza, be prohibited from leaving Ecuador, ordered to report periodically to judicial authorities, and have her bank accounts frozen. For Alvarez's mother, residing in the United States, the request is for her to present herself at the Ecuadorian consulate in Miami. Pre-trial detention has been requested for his cousins and another employee of an investigated company.

“

that Icaza be prevented from leaving the country, that she be ordered to periodically appear before a judicial authority, and that her bank accounts be frozen.

This development comes as Alvarez and his brothers are already in prison for this case, though an earlier order for their detention was revoked by a tribunal in April due to insufficient evidence at the time. Alvarez remains incarcerated due to two other separate cases, including one for alleged manipulation of an electronic ankle monitor. A judge is currently deliberating on the prosecutor's requests for measures against the newly included family members, with a decision expected soon.

“

that Alvarez's mother, who lives in the United States, present herself at the Ecuadorian consulate in Miami; while for his cousins and another person, who was an employee of one of the investigated companies, requested pre-trial detention.