[CLSTR]
< Back to situation

[REVISION HISTORY]

Hernán Rivas sentenced to 8 years for fraudulent law degree

Updated 4 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-25 20:26 UTC → 2026-09-25 21:34 UTC · added removed

A Paraguayan sentencing tribunal has convicted former senator and former president of the Jurado de Enjuiciamiento de Magistrados (JEM), Hernán Rivas, to eight years in prison for the production and use of false public documents. The conviction stems from Rivas using a fraudulent law degree from Universidad Sudamericana to hold significant institutional roles, including serving as a representative to the JEM—the body responsible for judging judges and prosecutors—and obtaining a professional license from the Supreme Court of Justice. During the trial, judges María Fernanda García de Zúñiga, Yolanda Portillo, and Juan Carlos Zárate Pastor characterized Rivas as an ‘alumno fantasma’ (ghost student), noting a complete absence of academic, administrative, or financial records to support his claim of studying law. The court found that Rivas had no record of attending classes, taking exams, or interacting with professors, despite possessing a certificate and degree. The sentencing was reached by a majority vote. While the prosecution had requested a 12-year sentence, the tribunal settled on eight years. Judge Zárate Pastor dissented from the majority, advocating for a 14-year term due to the gravity of the political and judicial damage caused. Additionally, the tribunal has referred four witnesses presented by the defense to defense—specifically two professors and two students—to the Public Ministry for investigation into potential false testimony. Opposition lawmakers Legal experts have criticized suggested the political networks that enabled Rivas to ascend to high-level institutional roles despite case may trigger further investigations into officials who facilitated the inconsistencies in registration of his background. fraudulent credentials.

Versions

  1. 2026-09-25 21:34 UTC Hernán Rivas sentenced to 8 years for fraudulent law degree
  2. 2026-09-25 20:26 UTC Hernán Rivas sentenced to 8 years for fraudulent law degree
  3. 2026-09-25 02:57 UTC Hernán Rivas sentenced to 8 years for fraudulent law degree
  4. 2026-09-24 22:44 UTC Hernán Rivas sentenced to 8 years for fraudulent law degree
  5. 2026-09-24 19:15 UTC Hernán Rivas legal case and congressional reform

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.