translated from Spanish: Public Prosecutor’s Office investigates purchases at Telecommunications Command and opens new edge of Army fraud

Based on a report prepared by the Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR) the Office of the Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating a new edge in fraud cases within the Chilean Army. These are the supposedly irregular purchases made by the Telecommunications Command of equipment for the exchange of encrypted messages with armed institutions in other countries.
The purchases made under the Cryptofax Network Renewal Project programme, between 2013 and 2015, have been in the crosshairs of the prosecution since April of this year, after the CGR delivered a report establishing irregularities. According to the report, revealed in part by La Tercera “the recurring complaint acquired by the Electronic Warfare Headquarters (JGE) in 2013 (…) 24 cryptographic teams with the company Crypto AG., whose representation in Chile is in charge of CYM S.A., for US$ 900,000”, the text states.
As established by the CGR audit, “214 items acquired under the name ‘set of encrypted printing and storage accessories’ were found to be (…) they were received with an unappreciated delivery guide, with no history to prove (…) that they were based on the bill of April 25, 2014.” In addition, the inquiry detected an overprice of US$46,384 in the purchase of eight of these equipment. At the same time, “inconsistencies in the procurement procedure” were found with The Company CYM.
Military add-ons
At the same time, the prosecution also investigates the possible misuse of US$126 thousand between 2014 and 2017, in the context of the process of installing and renewing the equipment network in military add-ons. 13 service commissions are questioned, in practice 53 visits to 21 countries in some cases by two or three officials.
Prosecutor Xiimena Chong in charge of this ridge, since May who has been carrying out different errands. Among them is the summons to testify for today Monday to the former Commander-in-Chief Juan Miguel Fuente-Alba as a witness.
From the Army they reported that “in the knowledge of the prereport, prepared by the Comptroller’s Office in April 2018, following research conducted at the Telecommunications Command, the institution provided a summary investigation in May 2018 (…) In June 2018, the Army filed the corresponding complaint with military justice. Both investigations are ongoing, which is why the Army is prevented from speaking.”
 

Original source in Spanish