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Bataglia on his implication in IPS mafia case: 'No comment'
🇵🇾 Paraguay /Crime & Justice

Bataglia on his implication in IPS mafia case: 'No comment'

From ABC Color · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Former head of Paraguay's social security institute (IPS), Vicente Bataglia, appeared in court facing charges of embezzlement.
  • Bataglia and his successor are accused of causing over 60 billion guaraníes in damages related to a failed modular operating room project.
  • Bataglia, who returned to Paraguay after an arrest warrant was issued, refused to comment to journalists, stating only that he would "submit to justice."

Vicente Bataglia, the former president of Paraguay's social security institute (IPS), presented himself at the Palace of Justice in Asunción for a hearing on precautionary measures. He faces charges of embezzlement, alongside his successor Jorge Brítez and other officials, for allegedly causing over 60 billion guaraníes (approximately $8.2 million USD) in patrimonial damage to IPS.

Without comment

— Vicente BatagliaBataglia's response to journalists upon arriving at the Palace of Justice.

The charges stem from the failure of a modular operating room project at the Central Hospital of IPS. Prosecutors allege that Bataglia and Brítez approved and amended the project despite known structural issues that made its completion impossible. The Ministry Public confirmed that despite multiple payments made to the construction company Neighpart S.A., the modular operating rooms do not exist in practice, with the work neither completed nor even initiated.

I am here to submit to Justice.

— Vicente BatagliaBataglia's statement to journalists regarding his appearance in court.

Bataglia, who was indicted on August 4 while abroad, had an arrest warrant issued for him. However, the warrant was annulled on August 12 when he returned to Paraguay and appeared before the Prosecutor's Office. Upon his arrival at the Palace of Justice, Bataglia declined to speak with reporters, stating, "Without comment" and "I am here to submit to justice."

All Paraguayans enter the country regularly, with or without an arrest warrant.

— Jorge Arturo DanielBataglia's lawyer, responding to questions about his client's entry into Paraguay.

Bataglia's lawyer, Jorge Arturo Daniel, addressed questions about his client's entry into Paraguay while the arrest warrant was still valid. He asserted that all Paraguayans enter the country regularly, regardless of arrest warrants, and that if migration had deemed Bataglia's entry irregular, he would not be free. The case continues as prosecutors investigate the alleged corruption within IPS.

The work is not finished, not even started, for the modular operating room that the company Neighpart S.A. acquired through bidding.

— Julio OrtizProsecutor Julio Ortiz, detailing the lack of progress on the IPS operating room project.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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