Justice Ministry releases CCTV footage in Hugo Javier case

Paraguay’s Justice Ministry released closed-circuit footage as questions continued over what happened to former governor Hugo Javier González inside prison. González underwent emergency surgery and remains intubated in intensive care after apparently suffering a stroke while in pretrial detention.

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The timing did not allow us to.

Justice Minister Rodrigo Nicora said the footage showed González entering his cell at about 3:28 p.m. The video showed no further movement until around 11:10 p.m., when staff were alerted to an “irregular event.” Medical personnel entered, and González, visibly bloodied, was carried out in a wheelchair and taken to Barrio Obrero Hospital in a prison vehicle. Nicora said staff could not wait for an ambulance because “the timing did not allow us to.”

The minister said González’s cellmate, Luis Giménez, alerted a guard. According to Nicora, the footage and timeline indicated that Giménez was the only person with González. Nicora said Giménez showed no signs of violence and had no disciplinary reports in the prison, where he was studying law and working through rehabilitation programs.

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The first interested party

Nicora said the ministry was “the first interested party” in clarifying the case and insisted that “no one and nothing will be covered up.” He said González appeared conscious when removed, touching his face and moving his arms, but could not speak or articulate words. The footage is now held by the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the investigating prosecutor, Luis Chamorro.

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No one and nothing will be covered up.