Judge Allows Appeal Against Pre-Trial Detention for Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Alvarez

A judge has accepted an appeal against the pre-trial detention order for Guayaquil Mayor Aquiles Alvarez and his brothers, Antonio and Xavier Alvarez. They are currently facing charges in the "Caso Goleada" (Goal Case) corruption investigation.

Judge Jairo García, from the Unit for Criminal Prosecution of Corruption and Organized Crime Offenses, issued a ruling on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, agreeing to review the appeal. The case has now been forwarded to a specialized Criminal Chamber of the Provincial Court of Justice for a decision. This move effectively suspends the ongoing legal proceedings against the mayor and other defendants.

The Alvarez brothers and co-defendants Fernando Peñaherrera Venegas and César Bravo Ibáñez had lodged their appeal against the detention order on July 8. Judge García had initially imposed the precautionary measure on July 6. The judge's order stated: "The appeal filed by the technical defense of citizens Aquiles, Xavier, and Antonio Álvarez Henriques is granted, with immediate remission of the file to the competent Specialized Criminal Chamber of the Provincial Court of Justice, so that it may hear and resolve the challenge in accordance with the law."

Adding another layer to the legal battle, Alvarez's defense team filed a motion to recuse Judge Jairo García on July 14. They argued that García's prior involvement in the "Caso Triple A" case, which also implicates the mayor, could compromise his impartiality. The defense also claimed a clear animosity exists between Alvarez and the judge, who had previously alerted the Council of the Judiciary about alleged threats from the mayor.

A preparatory hearing, initially scheduled for Thursday, July 15, against the mayor and 24 other defendants, was suspended following requests for postponement from the defense teams of the Alvarez brothers, assembly member Raúl Chávez, and other individuals under investigation. A new date for the hearing has been set for the week of August 3 to August 7, 2026.

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Se concede el recurso de apelación interpuesto por la defensa técnica de los ciudadanos Aquiles, Xavier y Antonio Álvarez Henriques, disponiéndose la inmediata remisión del expediente a la Sala Especializada de lo Penal de la Corte Provincial de Justicia competente, a fin de que conozca y resuelva la impugnación conforme a derecho.