Hugo Javier González remains hospitalized in serious condition, intubated, on mechanical ventilation and with a guarded prognosis at Itauguá National Hospital after being found unconscious on Sunday night, September 6, inside the bathroom of his cell at the Esperanza Industrial Penitentiary Unit in Asunción.
The incident was reported at 11:12 p.m., according to the preliminary report from the Ministry of Justice. Accounts of what happened still differ: the government initially said González may have suffered a fall from his own height, while other sources said he was found lying on the floor or unconscious in the bathroom area. His cellmate, Juan Antonio Arguello, reportedly alerted the officers, but accounts are not consistent about the exact time or sequence of the response.
González was first taken to the prison’s health unit, where he was also assessed for a possible cerebrovascular accident (stroke). He was then treated at the Trauma Hospital and Barrio Obrero General Hospital before finally being transferred to Itauguá National Hospital. The Ministry of Justice said the stroke was ruled out at Itauguá, while the defense also said medical reports pointed in that direction. Examinations showed a traumatic brain injury, bruises, abrasions and a fracture in the left orbital cavity.
The former governor underwent emergency surgery and remains in intensive care. The medical team said the next 48 to 72 hours will be decisive in assessing his neurological progress. It has not yet been established whether a possible neurological episode caused the fall or whether the trauma caused the changes observed.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office opened an investigation to determine whether the incident was an accident or an assault. Prosecutor Luis Chamorro carried out investigative procedures at the prison, took the cellmate’s statement and summoned officers who were on duty, according to information released by the press. The prosecutorial team also collected camera records. The cameras cover corridors and access points but not the inside of cells or bathrooms; as a result, there is no recording of the exact moment of the incident. Justice Minister Rodrigo Nicora said the Internal Affairs unit is conducting a parallel inquiry and stated: “Here, we will not protect anyone” if irregularities are found.
Attorney Bernardo Villalba criticized the delay in providing medical attention and said he learned of the emergency through the press. He maintains that the injuries resulted from blows inflicted by someone else, but also acknowledged that it is still necessary to determine whether there was an accidental fall or an assault. Deputy and physician Guillermo Rodríguez made a similar accusation and called for an independent forensic examination, without presenting conclusive evidence. A relative who did not identify themself said they feared for González’s life and spoke of “persecution” motivated by money; that allegation has not been confirmed.
An operation involving about 300 police officers took place the same day at the National Center for Pretrial Detainees, the former Tacumbú prison. Asunción Police Director Francisco Ávalos said the search had been planned the previous week and was unrelated to the case. The Esperanza unit is located in the same complex but was not included in the operation.
González is serving a 10-year sentence in the case known as the “phantom works” case, linked to projects that were not carried out during the COVID-19 health emergency. According to Villalba, the defense filed an unconstitutionality action with the Supreme Court of Justice after the Criminal Chamber rejected an appeal for cassation; this is the attorney’s account, and the measure does not represent a review of the conviction. González is also facing another case, with the trial scheduled to begin on February 3, 2027, over alleged losses exceeding G. 18.3 billion.