started · updated
Miguel Prieto trial begins in Tía Chela corruption case
The oral trial has commenced against Miguel Prieto, the former mayor of Ciudad del Este, and ten other individuals in the case known as ‘Tía Chela’. The defendants face charges of breach of trust and criminal association related to the alleged misappropriation of funds during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.
Prosecutors allege that Prieto used emergency health laws to bypass standard bidding processes, directing a contract worth approximately 2.9 billion guaraníes to Tía Chela SRL, a small retail shop lacking the logistical capacity to supply 25,000 food kits. The prosecution claims the scheme resulted in a patrimonial loss of over 2.1 billion guaraníes, alleging that some food kits were never delivered or that documentation was falsified using deceased or non-resident individuals.
The trial has seen immediate legal disputes regarding evidence. The defense has requested the inclusion of 56 new witnesses, including religious leaders, and various media publications. Meanwhile, the Public Ministry has sought testimony from the head of the National Directorate of Public Procurement (DNCP) and reports from the Comptroller General and the National Directorate of Tax Revenues (DNIT) to investigate inconsistencies in the contract and brand changes made by the supplier.
Entities
Ciudad del Este · Francisco Raimundo Arrúa · Miguel Prieto · Sebastián Martínez · Tía Chela SRL
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] The alleged corruption caused a patrimonial loss of 2,949 million guaraníes. unicanal.com.py · trece.com.py
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Miguel Prieto stated he is confident the truth will emerge during the trial. noticieroparaguay.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Miguel Prieto faces charges of breach of trust, criminal association, and administration for personal benefit. noticieroparaguay.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Ten other individuals, including former high-ranking officials, are facing trial alongside Prieto. unicanal.com.py · trece.com.py
- [● 3 SOURCES] Miguel Prieto is accused of leading a corruption scheme during the 2020 pandemic. noticieroparaguay.com · unicanal.com.py · trece.com.py
- [● 3 SOURCES] The contract was directed to Tía Chela SRL, a small retailer lacking the logistics to supply the requested volume. noticieroparaguay.com · unicanal.com.py · trece.com.py
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Accountability sheets were allegedly forged using falsified signatures and included deceased or non-resident beneficiaries. noticieroparaguay.com