Ornella Calvete, former national director in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce of the Ministry of Economy, tried to distance herself from the scandal known as Coimagate by presenting a document in which she requested her dismissal and denied any participation in irregular maneuvers linked to the National Disability Agency (Andis).
In his defense, Calvete maintained that the phrase that became central in the investigation—in which “karinear la commission” was mentioned in reference to a supposed percentage of 3%—was taken out of context. As he explained, it was a “private joke” in an informal conversation with his father and not a real allusion to an illegal payment or a bribery scheme.
The former official argued that the use of the term “karinear” did not have any criminal intent and that it was interpreted incorrectly by the investigators. In that sense, he stressed that he did not maintain commercial ties or procedures related to Andis suppliers or to the health area, the main focus of the case.
Another of the key points of his defense was the explanation of the nearly 700 thousand dollars found during a raid carried out in October in the apartment where he lived. Calvete assured that this money was not his and that it belonged to a company in which his father appears as a shareholder. According to her version, the funds would have been left there before she moved into the property.
In the letter, he stated that he was unaware of both the existence and the amount of the money found and that he trusted his father’s explanation that they were declared funds and of legal origin. He also denied having had any corporate participation or decisions regarding the management of that capital.
Calvete resigned from his position in November 2025, after the progress of the investigation and the raid on his home were made public. In his judicial presentation, he also exposed aspects of his family relationship and maintained that he never intervened in operations related to contracts, commissions or economic benefits linked to the State.
With these arguments, the former official seeks to disassociate herself from one of the most resonant corruption cases of the year and minimize the weight of the chats and the money found as incriminating elements, while the judicial investigation remains ongoing.
