The Attorney General’s Office announced the opening of an investigation against three officials of the Civil Aeronautics, in relation to alleged irregularities in the contractual process of acquisition of ergonomic chairs for the Air Traffic Control (ATC) personnel of the South Center regional.
According to the research, the officials Esther Josefina Vargas García, Laura María Cantillo Guzmán and Jairo Eduardo Guarnizo Escobarwould allegedly be involved in cost overruns in the acquisition of this office furniture.
The contracting process began with a minimum contract for an initial value of $300,000,000 allocated to the purchase of 23 ergonomic chairs. Howeverthe contract was subsequently extended, adding an additional amount of $143,327,646 for the acquisition of 11 more chairs.
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The Attorney General’s Office, based on evidence incorporated into the disciplinary action, has identified possible irregularities in this contracting process, which include alleged cost overruns and lack of justification in the addition of chairs to the initial contract.
The acquisition of the 34 ergonomic chairs represented a total cost of $443,327,646, which is equivalent to an approximate unit price of $13 million.
“The initial value of the contract was $300,000,000, intended for the purchase of 23 chairs. Subsequently, the contract was extended, adding an amount of $143,327,646 for the acquisition of 11 more chairs. According to the investigations of the Attorney General’s Office, this value could allegedly exceed the price of the furniture on the market,” mentioned the Public Ministry.
The Attorney General’s Office will continue with the investigations to clarify the facts and determine possible administrative responsibilities in this matter.
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