Former Secretariat for the Prevention of Money Laundering (Seprelad) minister Óscar Boidanich appeared in court this Wednesday to begin his trial. He is accused of allegedly obstructing the start of an investigation into Brazilian money exchanger Darío Messer, known as the 'soul brother' of former president Horacio Cartes, putting asset seizure in Paraguay at risk.
According to the prosecution, between 28 June 2017 and 16 April 2018, Boidanich delayed the communication of an intelligence report that indicated evidence of asset laundering involving Messer. The roughly ten-month delay unjustifiably postponed the opening of criminal proceedings, hindering the freezing or seizure of illicitly obtained assets.
The report also linked Darío Messer to former president Horacio Cartes, information that, the indictment states, was concealed from the Public Prosecutor's Office. Boidanich's defense has not yet commented publicly on the charges.