The short version
- El Nuevo Día reported that Hiram Meléndez Rivera died on Tuesday with the news confirmed by PIP secretary general Juan Dalmau Ramírez
- El Vocero and Primera Hora reported that Dalmau issued a statement offering condolences to Meléndez Rivera's family on behalf of the PIP
- El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora reported that after serving as ACAA director under Gov. Aníbal Acevedo Vilá he faced charges for misuse of an agency credit card
- Primera Hora reported he pleaded guilty in 2015 to six lesser charges received one year probation and restituted $13747
Death confirmed by PIP
Hiram Meléndez Rivera, who served as a representative for the Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño (PIP) in the House of Representatives from 1988 to 1992 and later as executive director of the Administración de Compensaciones por Accidentes de Automóviles (ACAA), died on Tuesday. El Nuevo Día reported.
The news was confirmed by Juan Dalmau Ramírez, former senator and current secretary general of the PIP. El Vocero reported that Dalmau expressed condolences to Meléndez Rivera's family and loved ones on behalf of the party. Primera Hora reported the same statement was issued in writing.
No details have been released on the cause of death, his age or funeral services, according to all three outlets.
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What the sources posted
Posts and statements below are the sources' own words, quoted as published. They are not independently verified.
Ante la noticia del fallecimiento de Hiram Meléndez, expreso, a nombre del Partido Independentista Puertorriqueño, nuestras condolencias a sus familiares y seres queridos. Este es un momento de profundo dolor para quienes compartieron su vida y sus afectos. A su familia, nuestro respeto, solidaridad y deseos de fortaleza en estos momentos difíciles.
The source's own post, quoted as published. Not verified by PuertoRico.com. View post
Ante la noticia del fallecimiento de Hiram Meléndez, expreso… deseos de fortaleza en estos momentos difíciles.
Our translation: Upon the news of the passing of Hiram Meléndez, on behalf of the Puerto Rican Independence Party I express our condolences to his family and loved ones. This is a moment of deep pain for those who shared his life and affections. To his family, our respect, solidarity and wishes of strength in these difficult times.
The source's own statement, as quoted by El Nuevo Día. Not verified by PuertoRico.com.
Political and legal trajectory
Meléndez Rivera also served as an electoral commissioner and later joined the Partido Popular Democrático (PPD), El Nuevo Día reported. His time at the ACAA during the administration of then-Governor Aníbal Acevedo Vilá ended with an investigation by the Oficina del Panel sobre el Fiscal Especial Independiente (Opfei).
The Opfei charged him with violations of the Government Ethics Law as well as aggravated illegal appropriation, fraud and misappropriation of public funds under the Penal Code, El Nuevo Día reported. Primera Hora reported the case involved unauthorized use of the ACAA corporate credit card for more than $15000 in personal expenses including restaurants and hotels.
Resolution of the case
After a lengthy legal process Meléndez Rivera reached an agreement with the Opfei and pleaded guilty to six lesser charges including negligence in the performance of duty, El Nuevo Día reported. He was sentenced to one year of probation and ordered to restitute $13747, according to both El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora.
The Supreme Court of Puerto Rico indefinitely suspended him from practicing law. After the case he chose a private life away from politics. No memorial events have been announced, El Nuevo Día reported.
Where the sources differ
All three sources agree that Hiram Meléndez Rivera died on Tuesday and that Juan Dalmau Ramírez confirmed the news and issued a condolence statement on behalf of the PIP. El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora provide details on his time at the ACAA, the credit-card investigation, the 2015 guilty plea to six lesser charges, the probation sentence and the $13747 restitution. El Vocero limits its coverage to the death and the condolence statement without mentioning the legal case or party changes. Primera Hora states the misused amount exceeded $15000 while El Nuevo Día specifies the restitution figure of $13747; both note he later joined the PPD.
What the reports do not say
The reports do not state Meléndez Rivera's age at the time of death, the exact date or place of death, the specific medical cause, whether he had been ill, or any plans for funeral or memorial services. They also do not indicate how or when the family was notified or whether other political figures issued statements.
Sources
Every link below was opened and checked when this story was published. Official means a government body, agency or the organization itself; Reporting means a news outlet.
- Reporting Muere Hiram Meléndez Rivera, exrepresentante del PIP y exsecretario de ACAA
- Reporting Muere Hiram Meléndez, exrepresentante del PIP y exdirector de la ACAA
- Reporting Fallece Hiram Meléndez, exrepresentante del PIP
How we checked this
El Nuevo Día, Primera Hora and El Vocero all reported the death and the PIP condolence statement from Juan Dalmau Ramírez. Details of the ACAA case, guilty plea, sentence and restitution appear only in El Nuevo Día and Primera Hora.
Compiled by the PuertoRico.com News Desk from the reports and statements listed above, and checked against them before publishing. It does not include original interviews. Spot an error? Email support@puertorico.com with a link to this story.
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