Hidalgo science council director alleges $21 million fraud in vaccine plant contracts

Hidalgo's Council of Science, Technology, and Innovation (Citnova) is investigating a potential fraud amounting to approximately 21 million pesos. The allegations stem from irregularities in two contracts awarded during the previous administration for the "Pilot Plant CGMP for the Production of Vaccines and Biotechnological Medicines" project.

Citnova Director Francisco Patiño Cardona stated that the contracts, one for architectural and engineering design worth 14 million pesos and another for the master plan at 7 million pesos, were reportedly completed satisfactorily with payments authorized. Official documents indicated that the services were rendered and technical documentation was secured.

However, upon seeking these documents for the formal handover process in September 2022, they were found to be missing from institutional records. Despite official acknowledgments of satisfactory completion and receipt of technical work, the deliverables could not be located. Patiño Cardona has filed a complaint with the Internal Control Body to investigate the potential loss or disappearance of this documentary heritage, though he noted the investigation has been slow to progress.

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The director of Citnova specified that the complaint does not constitute an advance determination of responsibilities, as it will be up to the competent authorities to clarify what happened.