The Superior Audit Office of the State of Guanajuato (ASEG) detected quantifiable irregularities totaling 55,617,340 pesos in the government of San Miguel de Allende, headed by Mayor Mauricio Trejo Pureco, most notably the alleged purchase of nearly 7,000 streetlights.
The Supervisory Body of the Guanajuato Congress made 35 observations regarding direct awards, contracts with suppliers with relatives in the public administration, the acquisition of goods, and the payment of salaries to alleged “freeloaders,” among others, but only two were resolved. It made 13 recommendations; only two were addressed.
The fiscal year audited is 2023, which corresponds to the administration (2021-2024) of PRI member Mauricio Trejo, who was reelected for the 2024-2027 term.
In its review, the State Superior Audit Office found no evidence of the location, installation, or operation of 6,854 streetlights that cost 46,663,948 pesos.
“The streetlights were acquired through two National Public Bidding procedures, awarding the contracts to the supplier Supra Desarrollos Tecnológicos,” the oversight body stated.
The San Miguel de Allende government did not provide evidence of the location of the lights, but responded that ASEG did not have the authority to review federal resources and accuses the superior auditor of embezzlement and usurpation of functions.
The local government paid 34,737,300 pesos for 117,000 food supplies to Comercialidora Passsat and 5,057,500 pesos for 1,700 bags of corn seed to Agrícola el Milagro (SMA).
The purchase was made through a direct award by the Treasury and the Chief Clerk’s Office, when the acquisition should have been made through a public bidding process by the Procurement Committee.
Mauricio Trejo’s administration paid 26,491,147 pesos to the company Construcciones y Proyectos PALMESA to clear the Ignacio Ayende Dam of water lilies.
However, the comprehensive provision of the hauling and extraction service was not accredited because there is no evidence of the final destination of the extracted water lilies, nor of the vehicles, nor of state and federal permits, ASEG stated.
PALMESA’s capacity and experience in providing the services were also not accredited.
“Although the documentation provided demonstrates the provision of some services, the truth is that, as this is a comprehensive contract, this supervisory body is unable to determine the amount of the accredited services, as the amount of each of the services included in contract number DMAyS-007-01-2023 has not been quantified, as the contracted amount covers all services,” he explains.
It is worth mentioning that Palmesa was created on October 8, 2021, two days before Mauricio Trejo Pureco assumed office as mayor of the administration (2021-2024).
The company was established by Mario Hernández García and Amilcar Berlain Moela Flores, originally from Chiapas, with a capital of 50,000 pesos, according to the articles of incorporation prepared by notary Óscar Arroyo.
According to the audit, the local government hired Diana Haidé Contreras Rosales, wife of Treasury advisor Christopher Domingo Carrillo Espinosa, as a supplier.
The supplier received payments of 293,000 pesos for the sale of 16 workstations, two reception and management modules, an executive chair, and a bookcase, without conducting a market study to find the best price, quality, and financing.
She was also paid 661,322 pesos for the purchase of furniture, without being up to date with her tax obligations to the Guanajuato State Tax Administration System (SATEG).
The municipality awarded contracts to the company SAMEVI Constructora, whose partner and administrator is Vicente Hernández Valle, father of Romina Hernández Rangel, who served as head of Citizen Services.
Vicente Hernández received payments of almost 1.5 million pesos for the sale of cement, sand, gravel, stone, and tepetate.
The companies ASECA and Equipos y Tractores del Bajío sold the local government a mechanical sweeper for 3,657,000 pesos and two agricultural tractors for 2,960,000 pesos through a direct award, when the purchase should have been put out to tender.
The ASEG observed that the Trejo Pureco administration directly awarded the purchase of three pickup trucks for 4,275,000 pesos to Automotriz de Celaya and Bajío Motor. The purchase was supposed to be made through a direct award with three bids.
The Treasury paid 123,000 pesos to an individual holding the position of administrative assistant for Social Communications, even though there is no evidence that he worked in the area, although he did work for the Private Secretariat of the Dolores Hidalgo government.
Nor was it proven that a person who received a salary of 62,300 pesos worked at the Comptroller’s Office. There is no evidence of his activities from October 2 to December 31, 2023.
Source: kuali
