Paraguay
Paraguayan Deputies Approve a Statement of Rejection Over Alleged Parallel Fundraising in Asunción
The lower house advanced an initiative promoted by opposition lawmakers over complaints linked to the capital’s Consumer Protection Directorate. The case has already been filed with the Prosecutor’s Office, according to Última Hora.
The Chamber of Deputies of Paraguay approved a statement expressing its rejection of an alleged parallel fundraising scheme at the Consumer Protection Directorate of the Municipality of Asunción, according to what was published by Última Hora.
The initiative was presented by deputies Raúl Benítez and Johanna Ortega, who sought to support complaints over alleged acts of passive bribery, serious coercion and extortion before the Specialized Unit for Economic Crimes and Anti-Corruption.
According to Última Hora, the work that led to the formal complaint was driven by council candidates Maximiliano Seiferheld and Bruno Martínez. The outlet said the accusation points to officials at an office of the municipal government.
Still according to Última Hora, the filing mentioned three transfers to private accounts in the name of Diego Emmanuel Giménez Solís for a total of G. 1,700,000, with the concept “municipality documents payment.” The publication indicated that the scheme would have included pressure on merchants under threat of inspections.
The outlet added that the reported events were placed between April and June of this year, a period in which Carlos Morel served as director of the Consumer Protection Directorate. Currently, Última Hora indicated, he is a council candidate.
The approved statement calls for repudiating the facts reported before the specialized prosecutor’s unit, which include alleged illegal collections, transfers to private accounts and possible acts of extortion or bribery linked to health inspections attributed to the Municipality of Asunción. It also seeks to reaffirm administrative probity and free economic competition in the face of clandestine fundraising practices or pressure tactics, Última Hora reported.
Sources
About this note. Written by El Notero with the assistance of artificial intelligence, based on what was published by the cited outlet. El Notero did not do its own reporting on this fact.
