The head of Ecuador’s Public Prosecutor’s Office, Diana Salazar, has received direct death threats and intimidation against her family, according to the investigating agency. Among the messages that the prosecutor has received is one that says, “You are about to have your birthday; I don’t want to ruin your party by killing your daughter.” These threats have intensified in recent hours, according to the Prosecutor’s Office.
The investigating agency attached to the complaint a screenshot of a WhatsApp message sent to the prosecutor, in which a video can be seen in which at least six people appear armed with rifles, dressed in black, and wearing caps that hide their faces. In addition to the video, the message reads, “You decide, my Dra.”
Local media have broadcast parts of the video evidencing the threats against Salazar, who has conducted investigations into high-profile corruption cases, such as the bribery case between 2012 and 2016 that resulted in the eight-year prison sentence for former President Correa.
As the armed men point their rifles at the ground, a man’s voice is heard telling the prosecutor, “If you don’t leave by hook or by crook, you leave by crook, and by crook I’ll send you to party in hell.”
President Guillermo Lasso expressed his solidarity with the prosecutor and asked Ecuadorians not to tolerate terrorist threats from criminal groups against a state authority and not to allow them to try to take control of justice institutions.
In view of these threats, the Minister of the Interior ordered the specialized units to investigate their origin and requested reinforcement of the prosecutor’s security. For its part, the Judiciary Council convened a meeting to analyze a disciplinary process against Salazar.
The prosecutor has strongly denied the accusations and stated that only the National Assembly, which is currently dissolved, can investigate her. Salazar has stated that these maneuvers reflect a desperate intention to take control of the Prosecutor’s Office.