Yucatán state accused of misdirecting $33 million in federal funds
The Superior Audit Office of the Federation (ASF) criminally sued the Government of the State of Yucatán, led by Gov., Rolando Zapata Bello, for allegedly diverting over 33 million pesos of public funds.
The ASF filed the complaint on May 11, 2017, the ASF reported, but only made local headlines today.
The complaint is related to federal resources set aside for the Strengthening of the Federative Entities Fund (FAFEF) in 2014. The federal government said some of the funding was spent on initiatives not allowed under guidelines, and demanded the money to be returned, which has yet to occur.
Around 24 million pesos were allocated to a project called the “Construction of Treatment Systems for Solid and Liquid Waste in Small and Medium Porcine Farms located in various municipalities of the State of Yucatán,” involving 100 pig farms. Since the project directly benefited specific individuals, the ASF determined that the project did not fall under FAFEF guidelines.
The state also applied over 2.8 million pesos to three highway studies and projects that did not correspond to FAFEF rules.
And the 5.8 million pesos applied to hiring personnel for a tax-collection program was also not a suitable use of FAFEF funds, the federal agency said.
The ASF has also criminally sued several municipalities, accusing them of misallocating a combined 128.9 million pesos.
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