Million-dollar fraud in Carrasco: four charged with embezzlement at Montevideo restaurants
An organised crime court formalised charges against four men for damage exceeding one million dollars to the firm BOWERDIN S.A. The former head of purchases was placed under total house arrest.
Four charged with million-dollar fraud at Carrasco food company
Organised Crime Judge Dr Diovanet Olivera formalised proceedings on Friday 23 May against four men accused of criminal association and embezzlement causing damage to BOWERDIN S.A., owner of the restaurants Manzanar and Río Café, located in Carrasco, Montevideo. According to cadenadelmar.uy, the estimated economic damage exceeds one million dollars.
The measure was adopted at the request of the Prosecution for Economic and Complex Crimes, Second Shift, headed by Dr Sandra Fleitas, following five prior arrests reported by the radio outlet.
Differentiated precautionary measures
The most severe restriction was imposed on the former head of purchases at the company, who must comply with total house arrest with electronic monitoring and is prohibited from approaching or communicating with the other persons involved.
His father was placed under night-time house arrest between 22:00 and 06:00 hours, with identical restrictions on contact and proximity regarding the other investigated persons, according to confirmation by Cadena del Mar based on information from journalist Agustín Carballo for El País.
The uncle of the principal accused and a former employee of the firm must establish a fixed address, appear periodically at a police station and comply with a travel ban, with communication and approach restrictions for 120 days.
A fifth person detained, partner of the principal accused, does not currently form part of the group of four formalised, but must declare a fixed address and is prohibited from leaving the national territory.
Supply orders that never arrived
Suspicions centre on purchases of food and supplies that were invoiced and paid for by BOWERDIN S.A., but which allegedly never reached the food establishments.
A review of accounting records detected discrepancies between the volume of purchases, available stock and usual consumption at the locations. These inconsistencies led to an internal audit and the dismissal of several employees for "evident misconduct".
The Prosecution seeks to establish whether part of the products was diverted and sold to other businesses through an informal circuit, with the possible involvement of relatives and persons working with the principal accused.
Attributed roles and possible money laundering
The former head of purchases was charged as the alleged perpetrator of both crimes—criminal association and embezzlement—while the other three men were named as co-perpetrators.
The Prosecution also warned that the embezzlement could constitute a predicate offence for money laundering, which would broaden the scope of the investigation.
The complaint was filed approximately four months ago by Dr Jorge Barrera, in representation of the affected firm.
Repercussions in José Ignacio and Laguna Garzón
The case has implications beyond Montevideo. One of the partners of BOWERDIN S.A. is linked to the main resort in José Ignacio and to food businesses in Laguna Garzón, area of Maldonado.
To date, it has not been established that those locations were affected by the operations under investigation.
The proceedings continue and final criminal liability will be determined in the following stages of the judicial process.
Source: Google News UY — Montevideo