Justice Dept. recommends SIP in case involving ex-SEC alternate chair

By THE STAR STAFF

The island Department of Justice announced on Monday that it has recommended to the Office of the Special Independent Prosecutor Panel (OPFEI by its initials in Spanish) the appointment of a special independent prosecutor in connection with actions attributed to the then-alternate chairwoman of the State Elections Commission (SEC), Judge Jessika Padilla Rivera.

According to the report, the recommendation was sent via official communication to the OPFEI after the completion of a preliminary investigation conducted by the Justice Department, in accordance with the Office of the Special Independent Prosecutor Panel Law. The determination was also communicated to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Office of the Inspector General, the entities that had referred the matter, as well as to Padilla Rivera herself.

The preliminary investigation originated from a referral submitted on May 29, 2025 by the OMB related to the possible misuse of public funds at the SEC. The referral cited the payment of a one-time bonus to 65 exempt employees during April 2025, in addition to evaluating a report prepared by the Office of the Inspector General.

The analysis of the case was conducted in accordance with the provisions of the Puerto Rico Penal Code, the Government Ethics Law, and the legislation governing proceedings before the OPFEI, the Justice Department said. After examining the evidence collected, it was concluded that there is sufficient cause to believe that the then-alternate chairwoman of the SEC engaged in conduct that could constitute embezzlement of public funds, as well as conduct prohibited by the Government Ethics Law.

The case is currently under consideration by the OPFEI.