# Paraguayan municipal corruption investigations

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/paraguayan-municipal-corruption-investigations
> Updated: 2026-10-26T12:40:22.000Z. Sources: 23. Developments: 2.

Investigations into irregular public procurement during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic have led to legal proceedings against former municipal officials in Paraguay.

In Ciudad del Este, a Court of Appeals has confirmed that former mayor and current councilman Miguel Prieto must face an oral trial in the ‘Caso Tajy’ investigation. The court rejected defense motions to dismiss charges or transfer the case. Prieto and six others are accused of breach of trust, criminal association, and administration for personal gain. The prosecution alleges that approximately 306 million Guaraníes were paid to a supplier, Tajy, for bakery supplies that were never delivered. Investigators claim the company lacked the technical and economic capacity to fulfill the order and noted a commercial link between the supplier and a company owned by Prieto’s partner at the time.

Simultaneously, in Asunción, former mayor Óscar ‘Nenecho’ Rodríguez has entered a preliminary hearing regarding the ‘Golden Detergent’ investigation. Presiding Judge Rodrigo Estigarribia is overseeing proceedings where the Public Ministry alleges a scheme involving overvalued contracts for cleaning supplies caused state losses of approximately 1,830,000,000 Guaraníes. While the prosecution seeks to elevate the case to a public trial on charges of breach of trust and criminal association, defense attorney Claudio Lovera has requested a definitive dismissal, arguing that the legal requirements for breach of trust have not been met and challenging the criminal association charge.

## Claims

- The alleged corruption caused a financial loss of approximately 1,830,000,000 Guaraníes. (disputed)
- The alleged corruption caused a financial loss of approximately 1,808,956,000 Guaraníes. (disputed)
- A preliminary hearing has begun for former Asunción Mayor Óscar Rodríguez. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The investigation concerns the purchase of cleaning supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Judge Rodrigo Estigarribia is presiding over the hearing. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The defense is questioning the criminal association charge due to the number of accused participants. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Rodríguez is accused of breach of trust and criminal association. (single source)
- The defense has requested a definitive dismissal (sobreseimiento) of the charges. (single source)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-26: Óscar Rodríguez faces preliminary hearing in Asunción corruption case

Former Asunción Mayor Óscar Rodríguez faces a preliminary hearing in Paraguay over alleged corruption involving overvalued cleaning supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/scar-rodrguez-faces-preliminary-hearing-in-paraguay-corruption-case

### 2026-10-17: Miguel Prieto to face trial in Ciudad del Este corruption case

Former Ciudad del Este mayor Miguel Prieto will face an oral trial in the ‘Caso Tajy’ regarding alleged corruption and irregular pandemic-era procurement involving bakery supplies.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/miguel-prieto-to-face-trial-in-ciudad-del-este-corruption-case

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Cite as: Paraguayan municipal corruption investigations. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/paraguayan-municipal-corruption-investigations