Monday, May 3rd 2010
The Amazon Defense Front is back at it, trying to distract attention from revelations that its lawyers submitted fabricated expert reports to the court in Lago Agrio.
In the latest volley, the Front’s publicist, Karen Hinton, revisits the $3 million bribery scandal that entangled the judge presiding over the Lago Agrio trial as well as individuals representing themselves as members of the Ecuadorian government and its ruling political party.
After failed attempts to question the legitimacy of the videotape evidence, the Front is now taking aim at outside counsel for Chevron. In its latest attack, the Front’s lawyers accuse Chevron counsel of concealing that Diego Borja, one of the men who recorded the meetings in which the bribery plot was discussed, had previously performed contract work for Chevron.
Yet, when Chevron announced that it had provided copies of the videotapes to authorities in the United States and Ecuador, Chevron stated in its press release that, “Evidence of the bribery plot was brought to Chevron’s attention in June by an Ecuadorian, who was pursuing business opportunities in Ecuador with an American businessman. The Ecuadorian, Diego Borja, has performed work for Chevron as a logistics contractor.”
This fact was widely reported by American media outlets like the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the San Francisco Chronicle. In Ecuador, papers such as El Comercio, El Universo, La Hora, Expreso, and Hoy also reported that Mr. Borja had been a Chevron contractor.
Chevron counsel also disclosed this fact to the Lago Agrio court in multiple filings.
Diego Borja, in a sworn statement provided to authorities, also disclosed that he had previously performed work as a contractor for Chevron.
It’s unclear why the Front’s lawyers want to keep talking about government-authenticated videotapes that depict judicial misconduct, especially when Karen Hinton has stated that the Front has “full confidence in the Ecuadorian judicial system.” It would seem that, in light of the facts, this position is just as misguided as the notion that Diego Borja’s prior work as a contractor is some sort of secret. However, when faced with the choice of having to explain why their lawyers submitted fabricated expert reports to the court, perhaps a $3 million bribery scheme looks like a better topic of conversation.
Tuesday, March 2nd 2010
An independent expert working for Ecuador’s Judiciary Council has filed a report stating that the videotapes Chevron provided to the government of Ecuador and the U.S. Department of Justice are authentic and unaltered.
In late August of last year, it was revealed on video that Judge Juan Núñez, who was then presiding over the lawsuit against Chevron in Ecuador, had prejudged the case (even though evidence was still being submitted and final arguments had not been held) and may be involved in a $3 million bribery scheme.
The judge was willing to talk about his pending decision with businessmen (Hansen) seeking post-verdict remediation contracts. The following is a transcript of that conversation:
- Núñez: “Any other questions for me as a judge?”
- Hansen: “Oh no, I, I know clearly how it is, you say, Chevron is the guilty party?”
- Núñez: “Yes Sir.”
- Hansen: “And the, the, the act (decision) is October or November of this year?”
- Núñez: “Yes Sir.”
- Hansen: “And it’s …?”
- Núñez: “No later than January.”
- Hansen: “January 2010. And the money is twenty-seven (billion dollars)?”
- Núñez: “It might be less, and it might be more.”
After analyzing the videos from which this conversation was transcribed, the expert found that:
- The videos were authentic and showed no evidence whatsoever of any kind of manipulation.
- The videos were proven to a scientific certainty to contain the unaltered voices of purported government officials and others who participated in the meetings.
The expert report puts to rest the false claims that the plaintiffs’ lawyers and Judge Núñez himself have made in attempts to cover up this abuse of the judicial system. Judge Núñez insisted to the Wall Street Journal that he could “see things that have been erased” and that someone “cut and pasted certain things.”
In calling into question the authenticity of the video tapes, the plaintiffs’ representatives had also insisted that the tapes had been digitally altered.
The expert’s report further emphasizes the improper conduct on the part of Judge Núñez as well as individuals affiliated with Ecuador’s ruling political party. To date, Judge Núñez has not been sanctioned for his misconduct and his prior rulings in the Chevron lawsuit remain part of the record.
Monday, August 31st 2009
Chevron is asking the Government of Ecuador to disqualify the judge presiding over the lawsuit involving the company.
The company has disclosed video recordings of meetings that show the judge discussing his verdict with businessmen. The judge confirms that he is going to rule against Chevron in the case and that the company will lose its appeal – even though the trial is still ongoing and evidence is still being received. And a purported ruling party official in Ecuador states that lawyers from the executive branch have been sent to assist the judge in writing the decision.
The video recordings also show an individual, Patricio Garcia, who identifies himself as a member of Ecuador’s ruling party, discussing details of the $3 million bribe with the same businessmen. The bribe was sought in return for remediation contracts to be handed out by the government after the adverse verdict is handed down by the judge.
The tapes show $3 million in bribes were sought: $1 million to Judge Núñez, $1 million to the plaintiffs suing Chevron and $1 million to “the presidency,” Garcia said.
The four video-taped meetings occurred in May and June of 2009. Two of the meetings took place at the Quito offices of Alianza PAIS, Ecuador’s ruling party, one meeting took place in the judge’s chambers in Lago Agrio, and a second meeting involving the judge took place in a Quito hotel.
After referring the evidence of the scheme to authorities, Chevron Executive Vice President Charles James said that company lawyers will seek disqualification of the judge in the case and annulment of his prior rulings.
“No judge who has participated in meetings of the type shown on these tapes could possibly deliver a legitimate decision,” James said.
“We are calling upon Ecuadorian authorities to conduct a full investigation of this matter – focusing not only on the conduct of Judge Núñez, but also on the very serious indications of political interference in this case.
“We feel compelled to put this entire matter in the public domain as a check against retaliation or further unlawful conduct as it relates to the case there. We also believe that public disclosure will encourage a deeper investigation of these matters by appropriate officials within Ecuador.”
In the videos, Judge Núñez makes numerous statements indicating prejudgment of the case against Chevron. In one recorded meeting, he participated in the following exchange:
Núñez: “Any other questions for me as a judge?”
Hansen: “Oh no, I, I know clearly how it is, you say, Chevron is the guilty party?”
Núñez: “Yes Sir.”
Hansen: “And the, the, the act (decision) is October or November of this year?”
Núñez: “Yes Sir.”
Hansen: “And it’s….?”
Núñez: “No later than January.”
Hansen: “January 2010. And the money is twenty-seven (billion dollars)?”
Núñez: “It might be less, and it might be more.”
The last recorded meeting showed details regarding the bribes. It occurred June 22 at the Alianza PAIS office in Quito. During the meeting, Garcia confirmed the details of the bribe:
Borja: “OK. Of the three million … one million is for the judge?”
Garcia: “Yes.”
Borja: “One million for the presidency…?”
Garcia: “Yes.”
Borja: “And one million for the plaintiffs?”
Garcia: “Yes, that’s right.”
Borja: “But, Loco, for the plaintiffs, who gets the money? Fajardo?”
Garcia: “No. The thing is, we’re going to handle it here.”
Borja: “You mean Alianza PAIS would receive the payment here?”
Garcia: “Right.”
Evidence of the bribery plot was brought to Chevron’s attention in June by an Ecuadorian citizen, who was pursuing business opportunities in Ecuador along with an American businessman.
The Ecuadorian, Diego Borja, has performed work for Chevron as a logistics contractor. Borja also has a relative who works as a contractor to Chevron. The American, Wayne Hansen, has no relationship to Chevron.
Since the time that the recordings came into Chevron’s possession, the company has made extensive efforts to authenticate and preserve the information.
Recording 1, Spanish Transcription and English Translation
Recording 2, Spanish Transcription and English Translation
Recording 3, Spanish Transcription and English Translation
Recording 4, Spanish Transcription and English Translation
