The Public Ministry of Paraguay announced this Tuesday (23) the opening of a criminal case against the country’s vice president, Hugo Velázquez, after the United States accused him of participating in “significant acts of corruption” and banned his entry. in the country.
Paraguay’s attorney general, Sandra Quiñónez, decided to “investigate the facts in relation to the statement” by the US ambassador to the country, Marc Ostfield, that “facts that could have criminal relevance” referred to Velázquez, said the Paraguayan MP. in a statement.
The agency indicated that prosecutors Liliana Alcaraz and Osmar Legal, from the Specialized Unit for Economic Crimes and Anti-Corruption, will be responsible for the charges.
When asked about the matter, Velázquez told Radio Monumental, from Paraguay, that, as the Public Ministry does not have a complaint about what is attributed to him, “the only way to request the records from the embassy is to file a lawsuit”. “It’s the possibility of knowing what it’s about, because I don’t know what it’s about,” he argued.
In turn, Liliana Alcaraz told the same broadcaster that, as there was no complaint about an alleged bribery involving the vice president, the investigation has as its starting point Ostfield’s statements.
On the 12th, the United States accused Velázquez and the now former legal advisor of the Yacyretá Hydroelectric Power Plant (EBY), Juan Carlos Duarte, of participating in “significant acts of corruption”, including the offering of bribes and interference in the public processes.
Marc Ostfield said during a press conference in Asunción that Duarte, at the request of Vice President Velázquez, “offered a bribe of more than US$ 1 million” to a public official, with the alleged intention of “obstructing an investigation that threatened the vice president”. president and his financial interests.
Shortly after the State Department’s announcement, Sandra Quiñónez ordered a “technical-legal review” of the statement to determine whether there were “facts of criminal relevance” and whether an investigation was appropriate.
Velázquez, who initially said he was willing to step down, gave up last Thursday from formalizing his resignation and claimed he would ask “the corresponding agencies” for evidence of the allegations.
In a statement released that day, Velázquez said he had received confirmation that the Public Ministry did not have a case open against him. However, he withdrew his candidacy for the presidency of the country by the ruling Colorado Party, being replaced by the now former Minister of Public Works and Communications Arnoldo Wiens.
Asked about the situation of his second-in-command, the president of Paraguay, Mario Abdo Benítez, declared last Sunday in an interview with the Telefuturo broadcaster “that the right thing is to resign”, but said that he “absolutely respects” Velázquez’s decision.
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