Public Ministry requests extension in investigation for alleged corruption at SeNaSa
The case involving the former director of the National Health Insurance (SeNaSa), Santiago Marcelo F. Hazim Albainy, and others implicated in an alleged corruption scheme, continues in the instruction phase. The Public Prosecutor’s Office has formally requested from the Seventh Instruction Court of the National District a four-month extension to delve deeper into the investigations related to the millionaire embezzlement that allegedly affected the institution.
The hearing to consider this request was originally scheduled for this week; however, the court decided to postpone it to September 4, 2026, due to the passing of a family member of one of the defense attorneys.
Operation Cobra Details
Wilson Camacho, head of the Public Ministry’s General Directorate of Prosecution, explained that the complexity of the case, the volume of financial transactions under analysis, and the number of people involved justify the need for more time. According to the authorities, this process is part of the so-called Operation Cobra, which has detected three structures that were operating to the detriment of the state health risk administrator.
The scale of the operations under investigation requires continuing with the collection and analysis of evidence to determine the individual participation of each person involved and to proceed with new charges when the investigative phases allow it.
Wilson Camacho, Deputy Prosecutor.
Status of coercive measures
The court has upheld the precautionary measures against the main suspects. Santiago Marcelo F. Hazim Albainy, along with other defendants such as Gustavo Enrique Messina Cruz, Francisco Iván Minaya Pérez, Germán Rafael Robles Quiñones, Rafael Luis Martínez Hazim, Ramón Alan Speakler Mateo, and Ángel Luis Guzmán Vásquez, remain in pretrial detention for a period of 18 months.
In the case of Ada Ledesma Ubiera, the preventive detention measure was replaced by house arrest due to her state of health, a decision that was recently ratified by the court. Likewise, other individuals involved in the case, including Cinty Acosta Sención, Heidi Mariela Pineda Perdomo, and Eduardo Read Estrella, are complying with measures that include house arrest and a travel ban.
Formal accusations
The investigation points to a systematic scheme that allegedly diverted billions of pesos through various irregularities, among which the following stand out:
- Coalition of officials and malfeasance.
- Criminal association and bribery.
- Fraud, embezzlement, and money laundering.
- Forgery of documents and use of forged documents.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office maintains that the fraud involved both internal SeNaSa officials and healthcare service providers. The prosecution continues to collect evidence regarding illicit payments, alterations to financial statements, and the creation of special programs without legal basis, elements that will be fundamental for the future presentation of definitive charges before the courts.
