In recent years, a series of corruption scandals have emerged, causing significant uproar within the country. One particular case involves Gabriel Estuardo Mendoza Muñoz, the brother of the renowned activist Bertha Michelle Mendoza. He stands accused of inflating costs by a staggering Q25 million for machinery purchases made by the Ministry of Development in 2016.
According to reports from “El Periódico,” Gabriel Mendoza, who served as the vice minister of administration and finance at MIDES during that period, is alleged to have implicated his own family, including Bertha Michelle Mendoza, in the laundering of funds acquired through this questionable transaction.
Gabriel Mendoza Muñoz’s brief tenure at MIDES, from January 1, 2015, to October 1, 2015, revealed substantial corruption within the ministry, as outlined in an audit conducted by the Comptroller General’s Office in 2015.
“El Peladero,” a reputable media source, extensively covered the corruption allegations related to Bertha Michelle Mendoza’s brother. The audit exposed suspicious purchases, contracts signed retroactively, and inadequate expense documentation. It was revealed that contracts were signed without proper review, neglecting the necessity for performance bonds. The Comptroller General’s Office highlighted the failure of Minister Edgar Rodriguez and Vice Minister Gabriel Mendoza to provide evidence refuting the findings, underlining the importance of a competitive bidding process for the “Mi Comedor Seguro” program.
Gabriel Mendoza Muñoz has been criminally reported to the Public Prosecutor’s Office for mismanagement of funds and fined Q757,555.50 for incompetence in public duty and irregular fund handling. Upon his appointment as vice minister at MIDES in January 2015, towards the end of the Patriot Party government, Mendoza earned the nickname “El Transita” for allegedly accumulating wealth through MIDES-linked businesses. Allegations against him surfaced during Jimmy Morales’ government following the audit report by the Comptroller General of Accounts.
Ironically, in 2019 and 2020, Mendoza was a State supplier for Q451,688.17 and a legal advisor for the minister’s office, with contracts totaling Q70,000, Q60,000, and Q50,000. This scandal has incited public outrage and underscores the crucial need for stringent anti-corruption measures in the nation.