The Criminal Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice rejected on Wednesday the challenge filed by the defense of former governor Hugo Javier González against the members of the Appeals Court. With this decision, the panel is now able to review the appeal against the ruling that ordered the case to proceed to oral and public trial.
Hugo Javier, known as “Number 2,” is charged with breach of trust, production of non-authentic documents, and misappropriation, in a case involving 16 other defendants. The investigation examines an alleged financial loss of G. 18,384,427,005 in the Central Governorate between 2019 and 2020.
The Public Prosecutor's Office alleges that the disbursements were made as contributions to non-profit organizations for 51 projects. The investigation maintains that the funds were transferred through various entities, including foundations and civil associations, which allegedly took part in the scheme to execute the resources.
The prosecutorial filing indicates that the disbursements occurred despite inconsistencies in the documentation and a lack of technical justification for several projects. The accusation points out that the projects lacked detailed action plans, itemized budgets, or clear technical specifications. Moreover, the recipient organizations allegedly failed to submit accountings endorsed by the Comptroller General's Office or meet formal banking requirements to receive the funds.
In a parallel case, known as “phantom works,” Hugo Javier was sentenced in January 2025 to 10 years in prison for breach of trust and use of false invoices. The former governor remains under ambulatory release while the judicial process advances.