Prosecutors seek a formal hearing and temporary detention as Zamora disputes allegations over unexplained assets.

Prosecutors seek formal charges

The criminal investigation into suspended Cuenca Mayor Cristian Zamora advanced this week after the Azuay Provincial Prosecutor’s Office asked a judge to set a date and time for a hearing to formulate charges against him for alleged illicit enrichment.

The request to open the formal criminal proceeding was filed on September 17th before a specialized judicial unit that handles corruption and organized-crime cases. Provincial prosecutor Ximena Rojas said prosecutors believe the investigation has produced sufficient evidence to move to the next stage of the case.

A hearing to formulate charges would not determine Zamora’s guilt. It would formally begin the prosecution and allow the investigation to proceed under judicial supervision. Zamora denies committing the offense and says the financial transactions questioned by authorities can be explained.

Fiscalía also seeks 24-hour detention

The case escalated further on September 21st, when prosecutors asked a judge to authorize Zamora’s detention for up to 24 hours for investigative purposes.

According to the request, Zamora had failed to appear for two previous summonses to give a statement in the investigation. Prosecutors also cited his departure from Ecuador as a reason for concern that he might not appear in the proceeding.

The requested detention is limited to investigative purposes and is separate from any eventual request for pretrial detention after charges are formally filed. As of this week, prosecutors were still waiting for a judge to rule on the request and to schedule the hearing to formulate charges.

Zamora says money is justified

Zamora responded from Mexico, where he says he traveled for specialized medical treatment. He rejected suggestions that he left Ecuador to evade the investigation and said he intends to give his statement to prosecutors.

The suspended mayor also challenged the basis of the enrichment allegation. Zamora said authorities examined millions of dollars that passed through his accounts and that the amount questioned by the Comptroller General was $82,398.15. He said most of that amount involved transactions from before he became mayor and that he has documentation explaining the money.

Zamora said two of the remaining transactions involved deposited checks from suppliers and a transfer from a family member. He has also referred to a second expert examination of his finances whose results, he says, have not yet been incorporated into the case.

Those explanations are Zamora’s defense and have not yet been tested in court. The Prosecutor’s Office maintains that it has sufficient evidence to seek formal charges.

Trip to Mexico draws scrutiny

Zamora left Ecuador for Mexico on September 19th, two days after prosecutors requested the hearing. He had previously discussed health problems publicly and said medical advice and a family decision led him to seek specialized treatment outside Ecuador.

At the time he traveled, Zamora did not have a court order prohibiting him from leaving the country. His departure nevertheless became part of the prosecutor’s argument for the subsequent 24-hour detention request.

Zamora said he is not fleeing and expects to cooperate with a new request to give his version of events. He has characterized the allegation as false and has suggested political motives are behind the case. Prosecutors reject that characterization, saying the institution investigates possible crimes rather than political disputes.

A separate fight over the mayor’s office

The criminal investigation is distinct from the legal and political proceedings that resulted in Zamora’s temporary suspension as mayor. The two matters involve different authorities, allegations and legal standards.

That distinction is important because the latest prosecutorial actions do not remove Zamora from office, extend his suspension or establish that illicit enrichment occurred. They concern whether the criminal investigation will proceed into a formal prosecution.

The immediate questions now rest with the courts: whether a judge authorizes the requested temporary detention and when the hearing to formulate charges will be held. If charges are filed, Zamora will have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s evidence as the case proceeds.

For Cuenca, the case ensures that uncertainty surrounding the mayor’s office will continue while the city remains under acting leadership and one of its most prominent political figures faces a separate criminal investigation.