A recent report issued by the Servicio Nacional de Atención a Personas Privadas de la Libertad (SNAI) has highlighted potential tampering with the electronic ankle monitor used by Aquiles Alvarez, the mayor of Guayaquil, who is currently involved in several high-profile criminal cases, including Triple A and Goleada. During a detailed examination of the monitoring device, officials discovered the absence of a crucial screw that secures the safety mechanism to the strap of the device, raising significant concerns about its integrity. This information has been immediately relayed to the Director of Non-Custodial Punishments, with calls for necessary actions to be taken in response to the findings.

The electronic monitoring device, a key aspect of Alvarez's legal surveillance as he faces allegations related to fuel trafficking, has now become a point of scrutiny within the ongoing investigations. On February 18, as part of the prosecution's case, this irregularity was documented in the evidence concerning Alvarez's compliance with court orders after he was placed under electronic surveillance earlier this month. The judge of the Anti-Corruption Unit, Jairo García, formally authorized the monitoring device to facilitate Alvarez's adherence to legal proceedings without being held in custody.

The implications of the reported tampering are profound as they may affect the legal proceedings against Alvarez. If proven that the electronic device was indeed manipulated, this could cast doubt on the efficacy of electronic monitoring as a tool for ensuring compliance with law enforcement and could lead to questions about the overall integrity of the judicial system in Ecuador. As such, the stakeholders involved in Alvarez’s cases may need to reevaluate the level of scrutiny and supervision required to ensure justice is served.