Paraguay: Trial confirmed for ex-governor over alleged G. 18.3 billion embezzlement

A Paraguayan appeals court has upheld the decision to send former Central Governorate governor Hugo Javier González Alegre and ex-administrative director Javier Marcelo Rojas to trial for the alleged embezzlement of over G. 18.3 billion (approximately $2.5 million USD). The court rejected appeals filed by the defense teams, confirming the charges against the two officials.

The trial is now scheduled to commence on February 3, 2027. The specialized economic crimes court will preside over the case, which includes charges of embezzlement, criminal association, and the production of non-authentic documents. Initially, prosecutors had also included charges of criminal association, but the lower court excluded this charge, finding insufficient grounds.

The accusation stems from alleged illicit fund diversions from the Central Governorate between March 2019 and December 2020. Prosecutors claim that out of G. 24.4 billion disbursed for 51 projects with non-profit entities, only G. 6 billion were justified, causing a patrimonial loss of G. 18.3 billion to the Governorate. The prosecution alleges a "criminal scheme" was established for the illegal diversion of these funds, with the active participation of representatives and authorities.