2024-04-09 07:46:48
During the hearing at the National Court of Justice, Helive Ángulo, known as ‘Estimated‘, was the third witness to present his testimony, who revealed to be the alleged administrator of Norero’s assets and his legal advisor in the money laundering case.
Ángulo, suffering from a chronic illness, requested to give his testimony early, expressing his decision to reveal the truth to rectify his mistakes and leave an example to his children and family.
According to his statement, he met Norero in 2021 through Juan Pablo Jaramillo, prosecuted in the Metastasis case and Norero’s personal driver. He was summoned to review the tax returns of Norero, who had paid USD 50,000 in income tax and distrusted Armando Flor Izaguirre, his previous administrator.
Angulo then filed a substitute return to avoid paying taxes, which gained Norero’s trust and made him the new manager of his businesses and money. The relationship with Intriago, who was mayor of Manta and died in 2023, developed while Angulo resided in the same city. Intriago was close to the lawyer and acted as an intermediary between the politician and Norero. The drug trafficker sought to launder his money in public works in Manta, and in return, he granted him a loan of USD 500,000. In addition, he acquired an apartment in the same city, which Intriago had received in exchange for managing a horizontal property procedure in the Municipality. This apartment came into Norero’s hands as a donation from a third party, for which he paid Intriago USD 178,000 in cash.
THE BOSS WAS DISTRUSTING THE RUSSIAN
During his testimony, Angulo mentioned Ronny Aleaga, former Correísta assemblyman, confirming that he was Xavier Jordán’s political operator and received financing from Norero. According to Angulo, Aleaga asked Norero for an armored Jeep-type vehicle to deliver to prosecutor Diana Salazar, with the intention of reducing the intensity of the money laundering investigation by the Public Ministry. Norero agreed and provided the car to Aleaga. However, this strategy did not work.
Subsequently, Norero ordered Aleaga to be followed and discovered that the vehicle was never delivered to the prosecutor, but that Aleaga used it in the ‘No’ campaign in Guillermo Lasso’s popular consultation, which sought to legalize the extradition. Despite his initial anger, Norero calmed down after Jordán’s intervention in favor of Aleaga. In addition, Norero would have financed the ‘No’ campaign in the popular consultation promoted by Lasso, showing concern about his possible extradition. Although voting for the popular consultation took place in 2023, the questions were approved in 2022, when the drug trafficker was still alive.
VILLAVICENCIO’S INTERMEDIARY
Angulo also mentioned another case related to Fernando Villavicencio, a former assemblyman and former presidential candidate murdered in August 2023. He confirmed that, through Intriago, an alleged advisor approached him to request USD 300,000 initially and USD 100,000 monthly, in exchange for stopping the investigations of Villavicencio about them. According to Angulo, the meeting took place between Intriago and this advisor, whose name he did not know. However, Norero refused to pay this sum, following the advice of Jordán, with whom he had developed a friendship after acquiring a house in Samborondón and other assets, such as a yacht and a lot.
Additionally, Angulo revealed how Intriago avoided his dismissal as mayor for a case involving the construction of a shopping center in Manta, linked to a suspicious movement of land during his term as councilor. To avoid dismissal, Intriago would have paid USD 60,000 to former National Judge Walter Macías, who at that time was a magistrate in Portoviejo.
Later, the case was transferred to the National Court due to an appeal filed by the Comptroller’s Office. At this point, Angulo stated that Intriago would have paid USD 45,000 to three judges to obtain confirmation of the ruling. Although he only remembered the last names of the magistrates, he mentioned Larco and Secaira. In addition, he pointed out the participation of Macías, who was already in the National Court and collaborated in the draw in exchange for USD 8,000 and a job for his mother in the Municipality of Manta.
Wilman Terán, who served as a co-judge in the National Court of Justice, would also have participated in these efforts. According to Angulo, in exchange for his influence, Intriago would have financed some indexed publications valued at USD 20,000.
“THE FIRST LADY”
In another part of his testimony, Angulo mentioned Bibian Hernández, accused of money laundering in the Amistad case, whom he referred to as ‘First Lady’. She explained that on one occasion, Hernández met with him and Intriago.
The meeting, according to ‘Estimado’, was intended to address the Mayor’s removal attempts related to the shopping center problem. Hernández, presumably, boasted of his proximity to Wilman Terán and an official from the Comptroller’s Office named Estupiñán, who could delay the administrative process until the court ruling is issued. In addition, Angulo recounted another meeting organized by Intriago in a house in Santa Marianita, a beach near Manta.
At this meeting, the objective was to promote Carlos Zambrano as a candidate for the Presidency of the Court of Manabí, a position that he finally achieved and for which he is being prosecuted in the Metastasis case. Present at the celebration were Iván Saquicela, former president of the National Court; Juan José Morillo, Ruth Barreno and Fausto Morillo, members of the Judiciary Council, as well as members of the Citizen Participation Council, whose names he did not remember.
Failed Glas Release
Finally, during the interrogation of prosecutor Diana Salazar, Angulo mentioned Norero’s intention to contribute money for the release of Jorge Glas, which did not materialize because the former official managed his release in another way, which would have caused Norero’s annoyance. . After his testimony and Salazar’s questions, Angulo chose to remain silent and did not answer the questions from the lawyers of the other 51 defendants.