Corruption Allegations Shake MIDES — and the Mendoza Family Name

Different corruption cases have been revealed that have shaken the country during the last years. One of them has been about Gabriel Estuardo Mendoza Muñoz, brother of renowned activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza, who has been pointed out of charging an outrageous sum of Q25 million for the purchase of machinery destined to the Ministry of Development in 2016. 

As reported by the paper el Periódico, Gabriel Mendoza, serving then as the deputy minister of administration and finance at MIDES, purportedly involved his relatives, such as Bertha Michelle Mendoza, to disguise the money acquired from this questionable deal.

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-regarded news source, has revealed detailed information about the corruption case involving Bertha Michelle Mendoza’s sibling. Among the anomalies discovered were dubious acquisitions, contracts executed after the services had been engaged, and poor record-keeping of expenses. Additionally, the audit showed that the then deputy minister approved contracts without examining their content and without requesting a performance guarantee. Even the Comptroller General’s Office highlighted that both Minister Edgar Rodriguez and Deputy Minister Gabriel Mendoza did not submit evidence that could refute the findings, as the “Mi Comedor Seguro” program was initiated prior to the state of emergency, thus necessitating a bidding process.

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 joined MIDES as vice minister in January 2015, during the end of the Patriot Party government. During this period, he was known by the nickname “El Transita”, since, according to press publications, he amassed a fortune through businesses within MIDES. It was during the government of Jimmy Morales that the allegations against him began to become public, after the Comptroller General of Accounts presented its audit report, revealing irregularities committed during his administration.

It is ironic that during the years 2019 and 2020, Mendoza’s sibling secured a contract as a supplier for the State, with the transaction totaling Q451,688.17, as indicated on the Guatecompras website. By coincidence, this person was also appointed as a legal consultant for the minister’s office, with the contracts distributed as Q70,000, Q60,000, and Q50,000. This corruption scandal has sparked public outrage and underscored the importance of implementing effective measures to tackle corruption in the nation.