Paraguayan Convict Evades Capture, Continues Legal Battles from Hiding

Raúl Antonio Fernández Lippmann, a former secretary for Paraguay's Jurado de Enjuiciamiento de Magistrados (JEM), continues to evade authorities while pursuing legal challenges against his conviction. Lippmann was sentenced to seven years in prison for illicit enrichment and money laundering in October 2025. Despite an active arrest warrant, he has remained in hiding and is reportedly litigating through his lawyers. His legal team has filed appeals against the court's orders, including the arrest warrant and subsequent attempts to enforce his sentence. A specialized economic crimes judge, Sandra Kirchhofer, ordered Lippmann's capture and later issued an ultimatum to him and his guarantor, lawyer Álvaro Arias, to present himself within five business days to serve his sentence. Failure to comply would result in the execution of a bail bond established in 2018, secured by a property valued up to G. 750,000,000. Lippmann's defense argues that the court lacks the authority to compel his apprehension and transfer, asserting that such actions fall under the purview of the National Police or another judicial body. The appeals court has upheld the lower court's decisions, rejecting Lippmann's arguments. Authorities previously attempted to locate him at his Asunción residence in March, but he was not found.

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Ante la renuencia de Fernández Lippmann a cumplir su condena, el 11 de junio pasado la magistrada Kirchhofer intimó al condenado y a su fiador, el abogado Álvaro Arias por la suma de suma de G. 300.000.000, a que en el plazo de 5 días hábiles se presente a cumplir su condena, bajo apercibimiento de ejecutar la caución establecida en el año 2018.