Assembly summons judiciary president in corruption case involving a Serbian drug trafficker

The President of Ecuador’s Judicial Council, Mario Godoy, has been summoned to appear before the National Assembly by the end of the year. The summons follows the release of audio tapes in which the head of the Pichincha judicial office is heard pressuring another judge to acquit a Serbian drug trafficker on money laundering charges.

Judicial Council President Mario Godoy

In the tapes, obtained by the digital newspaper Premicias, Pichincha office chief Henry Gaibor encourages Judge Carlos Serrano to acquit Jezdimir Srdan, currently held in the Enceuntro Prison on a conviction for moving tons of cocaine between Ecuador and Europe.

Following Gaibor’s suggestion that Serrano “carefully follow the arguments of Srdan’s defense,” Serrano said that Gaibor sent an “attractive lady” to his office to discuss the case but Serrano refused to meet with her.

At the conclusion of the trial, which was held via video, Serrano and fellow Judge Christian Fierro found Srdan guilty, sentencing him to 10 additional years in prison. A third judge, Cossette Lara, voted for acquittal. After the verdict was read, Srdan ran a finger across his throat, advising the judges to “be careful.”

Following Srdan’s conviction, Serrano’s police protection was withdrawn through an order from Gaibor’s office and his request for leave time was denied. After Serrano advised colleagues that he had received telephone and WhatsApp death threats, he resigned his position and left the country.

According to Assembly members, Godoy will be questioned not only about the Sndar case but about charges of “widespread” corruption within the judicial system, including in the judicial council itself. Former member of the council, Solanda Goyes, who will appear before the Assembly with Godoy, claims that Godoy and other members of the council have participated in “many actions that bring into question the legitimacy of the judiciary.”

On Monday, Godoy asked for and received a leave of absence from the council to prepare for the Assembly hearing. Earlier, following release of the audio tapes, the council had requested Gaibor’s resignation.

In addition to possible corruption on the part of Gaibor, Goyes says Judge Lara should be investigated. Lara had been suspended from her position in January as part of an investigation into the Euro 2024 case but was later reinstated. Goyes believes that Lara’s vote to acquit “was based on factors other than the law.”

In the tapes released by Primicias, Gaibor acknowledges that Sndar is a major drug trafficker but tells Serrano that the money laundering charges have “limited evidence,” and advises him to “listen closely to the defense and to pay more attention to the issues that the defense raises.”