Ex-Judge Accused of Prevarication in Paraguay Land Transfer Case

The Public Ministry of Paraguay has accused former judge Tania Carolina Rosa Irún Ayala of prevarication, alleging she made a manifestly unjust ruling that harmed national security and territorial integrity.

The accusation stems from a decision made by Irún, then a judge in Civil and Commercial matters in the Capital, to transfer 310,000 hectares of land located in the Chaco region, a border security zone. Prosecutors Christian Benítez and Silvia González stated in their opening arguments that Irún abused her judicial authority.

"The then-judge made this decision (to transfer lands located in the border security zone) without undertaking any action to determine whether these individuals were indeed linked to neighboring countries of the Republic of Paraguay," Benítez explained. The prosecution further highlighted that Irún allegedly suspended her maternity leave to issue the judicial resolution, even though an interim judge was in place, which they find particularly suspicious.

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The then-judge made this decision (to transfer lands located in the border security zone) without undertaking any action to determine whether these individuals were indeed linked to neighboring countries of the Republic of Paraguay.

According to the fiscal accusation, Irún failed to corroborate the identity or nationality of the legal representatives of the foreign companies that benefited from the land transfer. She also allegedly ignored the nature of these companies, not verifying if their shares or titles were nominative or bearer, or if they were endorsable. The Public Ministry emphasized that this case involved not only private interests but also matters of public order, and that Irún could not use the work of the parties as a defense when national sovereignty was at stake.

Irún Ayala was previously removed from her position by a majority vote of the Judiciary Council. The trial against her has now commenced, with the prosecution confident they possess the evidence to prove her guilt in the alleged prevarication.

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