A family from Caaguazú has reported losing their home, valued at approximately G. 1.5 billion, over a debt of just G. 15,500,000 — equivalent to 1% of the property's value — in a court case that has dragged on since 2000 and involves a web of promissory notes, property transfers, and alleged procedural irregularities.
The case began with a debt collection lawsuit filed by sports official Cristhian María Domecq Pico against Luvinel Antonio Torres, both now deceased. The original debt, incurred more than two decades ago, triggered the judicial execution proceedings, but the family claims they were never formally notified, as the lawsuit stated the property was located in Ypacaraí rather than in Caaguazú, where the home is actually situated.
Edith Gabriela Torres Martínez, Luvinel's daughter, said the family only became aware of the case in 2013, by which time it had already reached the auction stage. According to her, attorney Ariel Prieto Boggino was awarded the rights and claims on the lawsuit and continued the proceedings in place of Domecq Pico, who had already died. Upon learning of the auction, the family filed an independent annulment action in an attempt to prevent the loss of their home.
The case was paralyzed by an unconstitutionality appeal before the Supreme Court, but during that period, Prieto Boggino managed to transfer the property to the company Iguazú Sociedad Anónima, which in turn resold the property to a third party identified as Emigidio Olmedo Portillo. Olmedo Portillo is currently seeking to evict the family from the residence through eviction proceedings.
Edith Torres stated that even the heirs of Cristhian Domecq Pico had questioned the progress of the court case and the fact that another attorney had taken over the case. "All we are asking is for the Justice system to thoroughly review everything that happened and ensure that our family can access a transparent and legally sound decision," she said.
The family turned to the Senate commission investigating the so-called promissory note mafia in search of support to prevent the definitive loss of their property. Attorney Rubén Allende, who is following the case, explained that the annulment action was the path the family found to try to overturn the auction, which they consider irregular.