Former Paraguayan President Santiago Peña was transferred to a military base on Saturday, Nov. 7, after clashes between police and protesters outside his home. Demonstrators were demanding that he be jailed rather than placed under house arrest. (Foto: Instagram)
Former Paraguayan President Santiago Peña was moved to a military base early Saturday, Nov. 7, after clashes between police and protesters outside his home. Demonstrators were demanding that he be jailed rather than placed under house arrest. A post by Raúl Bogarín cited ABC Digital as reporting that police were unable to hold back the crowd as it advanced toward Peña’s residence, prompting his transfer.
ABC Color reported that the move was made for security reasons. Peña had been under house arrest by order of the Prosecutor’s Office as part of an investigation into the collapse of Ueno Bank. Earlier Saturday, Paraguay’s Senate voted to impeach him over the same case.
According to the courts, investigators found indications of breach of trust and other crimes allegedly committed by Peña in connection with Ueno Bank. The Central Bank intervened after finding that the bank’s solvency ratio had fallen to less than half the required level. The bank’s 3 million customers—nearly 40% of Paraguay’s population—were left unable to access their accounts.
Peña had been a shareholder in the group that controlled the bank. He also appointed Central Bank President Carlos Carvallo, who had led Ueno until August 2023. On the same day lawmakers submitted an impeachment request against Peña, he announced his resignation. The Chamber of Deputies did not accept the resignation and continued with the impeachment process.
