The Supreme Court begins the trial of former high-ranking officials José Luis Ábalos and Koldo García, among others, for their alleged involvement in a corruption scheme during the pandemic. The National Court sent them to trial for crimes such as bribery and embezzlement in the purchase of sanitary material. The prosecution is seeking sentences of up to 30 years in a case with about 80 witnesses that aims to clarify a network of illegal commissions. ⚖️
Digital Traceability and Opacity in Public Procurement 🔍
This case highlights a systemic failure in public procurement procedures. A robust digital traceability system, using blockchain to record each step of the award process, could have hindered opaque maneuvers. The lack of transparency in emergency processes, without auditable records, created an environment conducive to diverting funds. The technology exists to prevent this, but it requires political will for its mandatory implementation.
Express Tutorial: How NOT to Develop a Public Procurement System 💻
To replicate this success model, follow these steps. First, declare an emergency and suspend all previous controls, calling it agility. Second, centralize decisions in a small group, ideally without external supervision. Third, forget traceability; let the justifications be WhatsApp conversations. The final step is to not implement any automatic audit module. If you follow these guidelines, your procurement project will be as efficient as the one currently on trial.