Court clerk Antonia Galeano, from the Statistics Section of the San Lorenzo Courthouse, will continue to serve house arrest but without an electronic ankle bracelet, as she can no longer afford the equipment. The decision was made by economic crimes judge Humberto Otazú through Interlocutory Order No. 170, following a review hearing held on June 11.
Galeano, facing charges of alleged aggravated passive bribery, illicit enrichment, and influence peddling in the case known as the "Ankle Bracelet Mafia," was suspended without pay by the Supreme Court of Justice under Resolution No. 160 of May 19, 2026. Her defense attorney, Alexis Pimentel, argued that she could no longer afford the monthly cost of just over G. 2,000,000 required for electronic monitoring. In Paraguay, the cost of the ankle bracelet is borne by the defendant; the state only covers the expense if insolvency is proven.
According to the charges, Galeano allegedly offered to act as an intermediary with officials at Criminal Guarantees Court No. 1 of San Lorenzo, then under Judge María Elena Cañete, to benefit Marcelo Fabián Peña Mancuello, who was charged with theft, by securing an electronic ankle bracelet in place of pretrial detention. The clerk was a neighbor of the house where the house arrest was to be served.
The complaint was filed by Marcelo Peña's father, Concepción Peña, who reported being asked for G. 7,000,000 in exchange for a more lenient measure and a favorable report from the Electronic Monitoring Devices Control Office (OMDEC). After phone negotiations, the amount was reportedly reduced to G. 3,000,000, delivered in a parking lot near the San Lorenzo courthouse in a bag inscribed "Happy Birthday."
After the handover, Judge María Elena Cañete forwarded Official Letter No. 857 to OMDEC for a technical feasibility assessment. Galeano allegedly demanded an additional G. 1,000,000 for OMDEC officials, promising to send a positive report. The document was submitted to the court on April 22, and on April 24 Marcelo Peña was granted house arrest. The clerk reportedly continued to press for the remaining G. 4,000,000 balance, with G. 3,000,000 earmarked for the court and G. 1,000,000 for Interior Ministry officials. The conversations were recorded by the complainant with the help of family members, which enabled a controlled delivery and Galeano's subsequent arrest.