Lenin Vimos, anticipated witness in the Plaga case, gave his statement and gave names of those allegedly involved in the corruption structure in justice.
The second anticipated witness in the Plaga case is Lenin Vimos, a lawyer who is also being prosecuted and who has been identified by the Prosecutor’s Office as the ringleader of a corruption structure that recruited detainees to collect money from them in exchange for managing irregular freedoms.
Lenin Vimos began his statement by announcing that the names he was going to mention compromise his life and physical integrity.
The subject reported that he met Cristian Romero on October 3, 2022, the day Leandro Norero was murdered in the Cotopaxi Prison. According to Vimos, since that day, there were people who wanted to kill Romero, so he initiated actions to prevent it.
Salcedo’s freedom
One of the first actions was to seek the freedom of Daniel Salcedo, sentenced for hospital corruption and prosecuted in the Metastasis case. For this, Vimos and Romero met with Judge Simón Tello, who is another of the defendants in Plaga, on December 7, 2022. Romero would have offered USD 70,000 to Tello to release Salcedo. The magistrate would have accepted and the payment would have been made at a hotel in Crucita, in Manabí, that same night. Two days later, Salcedo was released from jail.
Gang leaders, to the street
During those same days, Vimos said, he visited the Yaguachi canton (Guayas), where he met with Judge John Rodríguez, who was the one who returned the political rights to Jorge Glas and who is today a fugitive.
With Rodríguez, Vimos would have agreed on the release of Alexander Quezada, alias ‘Ariel’, leader of Los Lobos, who was accused of being the cause of the 2022 prison massacres in the Santo Domingo and Cotopaxi prisons. Vimos would have paid USD 40,000 in exchange for that release, which took place on December 2, 2022.
José Alfredo Mejía, another of the defendants in the Plaga case, would have been in charge of the judicial process with which ‘Ariel’ was released. “I was tempted by greed, by money from criminal organizations. My physical integrity is in danger, but regret has led me to this,” Vimos said.
Another case in which Vimos was involved is related to other leaders of Los Lobos. Specifically Luis Arboleda, alias ‘Gordo Lucho’, and Jairo Zambrano Demera. The latter escaped on June 10, 2024, after a shooting at the Pablo Arturo Suárez Hospital, in Quito.
The case of Arboleda and Zambrano would have been forged in El Oro. We saw that he would have met, along with another lawyer, with Judge Franklin Tenorio in Huaquillas. Tenorio is another of those prosecuted in the Plaga case.
At that meeting, the three would have agreed to the release of the two leaders of Los Lobos. However, that plan was interrupted, since it was March 2023 and an earthquake affected the province of El Oro. But, a month later, ‘Gordo Lucho’ and Zambrano were released by Judge Byron Orejuela de Flavio Alfaro, also prosecuted. in the Plague case.
By: PRIMICIAS
And another gang leader. According to Vimos, they discussed how to facilitate the release of various detainees identified with criminal organizations. This meeting, along with others Vimos had during that time, pointed to a larger scheme involving the manipulation of judicial processes to benefit gang leaders.
The implications of these revelations are significant, suggesting a deep-rooted corruption within the judiciary that compromises the integrity of legal proceedings. Vimos’s statements, along with the corroborating evidence expected to surface, may lead to further investigations into the backgrounds and actions of several judicial figures involved in the Plaga case.
Legal ramifications
If the accusations made by Vimos are substantiated, it would not only put several judges and lawyers in jeopardy but could also dismantle networks that have perpetuated corruption in the judicial system. The Plaga case is set to become a landmark case, determining the extent of judicial corruption and the necessary reforms needed to restore trust in the justice system.
As the case unfolds, the safety and protection of Vimos, as well as the other witnesses, remain a crucial concern, given the dangerous implications of their testimonies. Authorities are under pressure to ensure their safety as they navigate through this complex and perilous situation.
Lenin Vimos, an Anticipated Witness in the Plaga Case
Lenin Vimos, a lawyer embroiled in the Plaga corruption case, has emerged as a crucial witness. Described as the ringleader of a corruption structure by the Prosecutor’s Office, he stands accused of recruiting detainees and offering them irregular freedoms in exchange for money. His recent statement has raised significant concerns about his safety, as he disclosed that revealing the names of his accomplices poses a threat to his life.
Connections and Corruption: A Deep Dive
Vimos first connected with Cristian Romero on October 3, 2022, the day a significant player, Leandro Norero, was murdered in Cotopaxi Prison. Fearing for Romero’s life, Vimos took steps to safeguard him. One of his initial actions involved negotiating the release of Daniel Salcedo, who had been sentenced for his role in hospital corruption. Vimos and Romero reportedly met with Judge Simón Tello on December 7, 2022, where Romero allegedly offered him a bribe of USD 70,000. The judge accepted, and following the payment—executed that very night in a Crucita hotel—Salcedo was released two days later.
Releasing Gang Leaders: A Pattern of Corruption
During the same period, Vimos’s activities led him to Yaguachi, Guayas, where he conspired with Judge John Rodríguez to facilitate the release of Alexander Quezada, also known as ‘Ariel,’ a leader implicated in the brutal 2022 prison massacres. For this, Vimos allegedly paid USD 40,000. José Alfredo Mejía, another defendant in the Plaga case, managed the judicial proceedings that allowed ‘Ariel’ to be released on December 2, 2022. Vimos expressed remorse, acknowledging that his involvement stemmed from greed, and highlighted the danger threatening his safety.
Vimos continued to be involved in dealings concerning other members of Los Lobos, including leaders Luis Arboleda (‘Gordo Lucho’) and Jairo Zambrano Demera. After a violent incident at the Pablo Arturo Suárez Hospital that resulted in Zambrano’s escape on June 10, 2024, it came to light that their release had been carefully orchestrated. Although bad weather interrupted initial plans for their release in March 2023, ‘Gordo Lucho’ and Zambrano ultimately benefited from a second arrangement with Judge Byron Orejuela in April 2023.
Implications and Future Directions
Vimos’s testimony has far-reaching implications for the integrity of the justice system and highlights a web of corruption within judicial ranks. As investigations continue, his insights could uncover further details about the interconnectedness of crime and judicial corruption in Ecuador.
By PRIMICIAS.