Press Releases

The Office of the Comptroller of Puerto Rico issued an adverse opinion on the acquisition of equipment and services related to the maintenance of the pools of the Aquatic Complex of the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus.

The Report revealed the possible collusion among several suppliers and a director, in the awarding of purchases to provide maintenance services and acquire equipment for the pools of the UPR-Mayagüez, from 2010 to 2013.

The diagrams in the Report illustrate the irregular processes that were carried out in the awarding of services. For example, Supplier A received payments of $73,832 after an apparent competition among suppliers who acted in common agreement. The emails show that the quotes of suppliers D, E, and F were requested and sent by Supplier B. In addition, the President of Supplier A is the father of the President of Supplier B, and the Vice President of Supplier B. In turn, the President of Supplier B is the Treasurer of Supplier A.

From these facts there may have been constituted, among others, the crimes of fraud and undue interference in government operations of Act 149-2004, Penal Code of Puerto Rico, as amended.

Our auditors also identified that Supplier B had five contracts formalized with the Municipality of Morovis for $38,700, to provide maintenance services to the municipal pool. The audit comments that the awarding process was irregular, since initially the Municipality's Buyer had awarded the service to Supplier I, who was the best bidder. However, a municipal director gave instructions to the Buyer to eliminate said quote, since there was a commitment to award the service to Supplier B.

These situations were referred to the Department of Justice and to the Office of Government Ethics of Puerto Rico on March 7, 2017 and are pending resolution.

The Report covers the period from July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2016.

See Audit Report CP-17-14

To view other published reports, visit our Audit Reports section.