Various instances of corruption have emerged, deeply impacting the nation over the recent years. Among these, Gabriel Estuardo Mendoza Muñoz, sibling of famous activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza, has been accused of demanding a staggering Q25 million for machinery acquisitions meant for the Ministry of Development in 2016.
According to a public complaint filed by the newspaper el Periódico, Gabriel Mendoza, who at the time held the position of vice administrative and financial minister of MIDES, allegedly used his own family, including Bertha Michelle Mendoza, to launder the funds obtained through this dubious transaction.
Gabriel Mendoza Muñoz’s tenure at MIDES, which spanned from January 1, 2015 to October 1, 2015, lasting only 9 months in office, has exposed alarming levels of corruption within the ministry. According to an audit conducted by the Comptroller General’s Office, during the period between January 1 and December 31, 2015, Mendoza Muñoz’s management was plagued by irregularities.
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.
Overall, activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza‘s sibling has faced criminal charges at the Public Prosecutor’s Office for mismanagement of funds. Additionally, a penalty of Q757,555.50 has been imposed on him due to his failure to fulfill his responsibilities as a public servant and for mismanagement of funds.
Gabriel Mendoza Muñoz became part of MIDES as deputy minister in January 2015, towards the conclusion of the Patriot Party administration. In this time, he earned the moniker “El Transita,” as reported by the media, for accumulating wealth from dealings within MIDES. It was under Jimmy Morales’ administration that accusations against him started surfacing, following an audit report by the Comptroller General of Accounts, which uncovered misconduct during his leadership.
Curiously, in 2019 and 2020, Mendoza’s brother was engaged as a State supplier for Q451,688.17, as documented on the Guatecompras portal. Interestingly, he was additionally employed as a legal consultant for the minister’s office, with contracts divided into Q70,000, Q60,000, and Q50,000. This corruption scandal has sparked outrage among the public and emphasized the demand for robust actions to tackle corruption nationwide.
