El Tambo Mayor Rene Castillo faces 10 to 13 years in prison if convicted of embezzlement over missing municipal concert funds, authorities said.
Castillo, a councilman, and event promoter Gabriel Gerardo O. are in pre-trial detention after being arrested for alleged embezzlement. The arrests stem from an apparent money shortfall related to a concert held during the canton's festival.
Under Article 278, first paragraph, of the Comprehensive Organic Penal Code, embezzlement carries a sentence of 10 to 13 years in prison. The law applies to public servants and individuals acting under state authority in constitutional state institutions who abuse, appropriate, misappropriate, or arbitrarily dispose of public or private funds, property, securities, or documents under their control for their own benefit or that of third parties.
Concert Contract and Ticket Sales
Canar Provincial Prosecutor Cesar Andrade Maldonado said the investigation involves an international concert organized for the 33rd anniversary of the cantonization of El Tambo. The event was included in a $50,000 contract signed between the mayor and the event promoter.
According to a report with indications of criminal responsibility from the State General Comptroller's Office, the three defendants allegedly coordinated the printing, distribution, and sale of 3,200 tickets totaling $83,000 in box office revenue.
The mayor and councilman allegedly received 1,400 tickets, while promoter Gabriel Gerardo O. handled the remaining 1,800 tickets. Fiscalia stated that the special audit by the State General Comptroller's Office determined the mayor presented 1,178 unsold tickets to auditors, but the handling of the remaining tickets was not justified by the three accused.
Unaccounted Funds and Investigation
Fiscalia reported that these actions caused a loss of $49,545 that was never deposited into municipal accounts. Andrade Maldonado said ticket printing and sales were not included in the contract, and administrative authorization to regulate the collection and entry of the money was reportedly not obtained.
The prosecutorial instruction phase of the case will last 90 days.
