Man in a suit and tie sitting in an office talking, with documents on the desk and an official portrait on the wall behind him — Walter Solís served as Minister of Transport and Public Works during Rafael Correa's administration. He is currently in Mexico as a refugee | La Derecha Diario

Camara — Walter Solís served as Minister of Transport and Public Works during Rafael Correa's administration. He is currently in Mexico as a refugee | La Derecha Diario

The Prosecutor's Office appealed the dismissal in the corruption case after the earthquake in Manabí.

Walter Solís and six other former Correa administration officials face a new judicial attempt

09/06/2025 15:00:00h

Editorial Team

The Office of the Attorney General requested the overturning of the dismissal in favor of Walter Solís, former minister of the Correa administration, and six former officials implicated in the Manabí Reconstruction case. The crime under investigation is embezzlement in the execution of projects funded with emergency resources after the 2016 earthquake.

The appeals hearing was scheduled for June 11 by the National Court of Justice and will include judges Felipe Córdova, Daniella Camacho, and Manuel Cabrera. The previous ruling by substitute judge Marco Aguirre stated that there was insufficient evidence, a decision that has been challenged by the Office of the Attorney General, the Office of the Solicitor General, and the Citizen Participation Council.

Among those dismissed are former authorities such as Pablo Ortiz from Ecuador Estratégico, José Nicanor B. from MTOP, and Víctor J. from Secob. According to the accusation, contracts were directed toward non-priority projects and linked to personal interests, evading public procurement processes and benefiting related companies.

Walter Solís has been sheltered in Mexico since 2021, protected by the principle of non-refoulement. His case also involves other proceedings, such as the Senagua case and the Bribery case, in which he has been accused of corruption along with other actors from the Correa administration.

Screenshot of a group video call with several people participating in a virtual meeting, some in offices and others at home, showing different backgrounds and names at the bottom of each box.

Screenshots of the reinstatement of the preliminary hearing in the Manabí Reconstruction case | La Derecha Diario

In the same reconstruction scheme, the only individuals indicted so far are Jorge Glas and Carlos Bernal, who will face a hearing on June 17. Both were responsible for the Reconstruction Committee and could be tried for the misuse of resources from the Solidarity Law.

According to the Office of the Attorney General, 11 projects not aligned with the legal objective were prioritized, neglecting urgent needs of the affected population. The lack of transparency and political steering reveals patterns inherited from previous administrations.

The reopening of the case seeks to set a precedent against the impunity that characterized the management of public resources during the Correa administration. This week's judicial decisions will determine whether the fight against corruption keeps its momentum or if institutional amnesia prevails.

➡️ Ecuador