Three Aisem officials reported for irregular charges in Bolivia
Police raided the Aisem headquarters following complaints of charges levied on employees to retain their positions. Three senior officials were taken to the Felcc for bribery and extortion.
Police intervention at Aisem over alleged bribery and extortion offences
The Bolivian Police raided the facilities of the Health Infrastructure and Medical Equipment Agency (Aisem) after a deputy filed a formal complaint and the Ministry of Health coordinated direct action. According to El Deber, three senior officials from the agency were taken to the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc), where investigations are underway into charges of bribery and extortion.
"I could not say which areas the reported individuals are from, but I do know they are three officials. The Bolivian Police are continuing with the investigations, they are taking statements," said Health Minister Marcela Flores.
The complaint was filed by substitute deputy Cecilia Vargas Vasquez, from the Libre party, who alleged that Aisem officials were demanding payments from their own employees so that they could retain their jobs within the institution. Vargas indicated that there are several witnesses to the charges collected within the agency.
The Ministry of Health specified in a statement that the intervention was intended to "verify the reported facts, allegedly related to possible extortion and bribery offences, and contribute to the development of the corresponding investigative proceedings".
Aisem is a state agency dependent on the Ministry of Health, responsible for the construction and equipment of public medical centres. Among its current projects is the construction of the Gastroenterological Institute in La Paz, with a budget of Bs 739 million, and the Oncological Institute of Cochabamba, valued at Bs 24.4 million, according to the agency's institutional portal.
Minister Flores guaranteed that there would be no reprisals against the officials who filed the complaints and assured their job protection. At present, the total number of people who may have made payments to keep their jobs is unknown.
Deputy Vargas also reported that police summoned Aisem director Daniela Quiroga, but she did not appear. Officers began steps to locate her at her residence in the city of La Paz.
Source: El Deber