Paraguay: "Chinese desk" case dismissal request becomes judicial hot potato

A request to dismiss a case alleging overpricing in the purchase of Chinese-made school desks by Itaipú Binacional has become a contentious issue, with prosecutors seeking to close the investigation.

The case, officially "Justo Zacarías Irún s/ lesión de confianza," concerns the alleged overvaluation of 410,837 desks. The investigative team, comprising prosecutors Luis Piñánez, Luz Guerrero, and Christian Benítez, formally requested the dismissal on July 9.

Judge Rodrigo Estigarribia, who specializes in economic crimes, is tasked with deciding whether to grant the dismissal or oppose it and forward the case to the Attorney General's Office. However, Judge Estigarribia is currently on vacation. His interim replacement, Judge Humberto René Otazú Fernández, is expected to allow the original judge to rule on the matter upon his return in the last week of July.

The prosecution's request for dismissal is supported by a technical-accounting report from the Directorate of Strategic Information Analysis (DAIE) of the Public Ministry. This report was prepared by accountant William Fleitas and lawyer Osmar Garcete, the same professionals who previously recommended dismissing a case against former Social Security Institute (IPS) president Vicente Battaglia for alleged damages of 1.6 trillion Paraguayan guaraníes.

This move has drawn criticism, with allegations that "cartismo" (a political faction) is attempting to bury the case. The reliance on a DAIE report, previously used in controversial dismissals, raises further questions about the investigation's integrity and the potential for political influence.