ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay - The Paraguayan Attorney General's Office is intensifying its efforts to address allegations of corruption surrounding a government procurement of Chinese-made desks. On March 25th, Attorney General Emiliano Rolón Fernández announced the creation of a dedicated special investigation team to consolidate and thoroughly examine multiple complaints filed in connection with the controversial purchase.
The newly formed team comprises experienced prosecutors specializing in economic and corruption-related offenses, including Natalia Caccavelo, who will lead the investigation, alongside Ruth Guerrero and Luis Piñánez. Chief Prosecutor María Soledad Machuca will provide overall supervision.
The investigation stems from a series of formal complaints lodged by prominent figures such as Celso Kelembu Miranda, former Congressman Jorge Brítez, and a coalition of opposition legislators. These complainants have raised serious concerns regarding the integrity of the desk procurement process, alleging potential breaches of trust and other unspecified offenses. The special team will now be tasked with meticulously reviewing the evidence and determining if any legal violations occurred.
In a separate development, the Prosecutor's Office reported a significant breakthrough in the fight against organized crime. Authorities successfully located a clandestine hideout previously utilized by a criminal group known in the past as the "Mariscal López Army." Prosecutor Pablo Zárate hailed the operation as a positive step, expressing hope that the discovery could provide crucial leads in the ongoing search for the missing individual, Félix Urbieta. The search operation was conducted at the Laguna farm, situated in the Belén Cué area of the Orqueta region. While approximately 5 hectares have been searched, an additional 5 hectares remain to be examined.
Meanwhile, political tensions are brewing within the ruling Colorado Party. Party members in the Ñemby region have publicly voiced their strong disapproval of party leader Horacio Cartes' recent endorsement of a specific female councilwoman as his preferred candidate for the upcoming mayoral election in Ñemby. In a statement of protest, these party members called on the former president to "take a step back," arguing that his overt support for a single candidate undermines the principles of fairness, transparency, and the established regulations of the Colorado Party. Cartes' endorsement occurred during a public event on February 26th, where he assured the councilwoman of his and the party's full support in her bid to become the next mayor of Ñemby. This move has ignited debate within the party regarding the appropriate role of its leadership in local electoral contests.
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