Judge Humberto Otazú, of the Specialized Economic Crimes Penal Guarantees Court of Asunción, scheduled the preliminary hearing for June 3, 4, and 5 at 10 a.m. for federal deputy Esteban Samaniego (Colorado Party), his wife and current mayor of Quyquyhó, Patricia Corvalán, and 14 others. They are accused by the Public Ministry of illicit enrichment and other crimes, with alleged losses of G. 338,595,000 to the coffers of the municipality of Quyquyhó.
The investigation, led by prosecutor Silvio Corbeta, indicates that Samaniego, when he was mayor of Quyquyhó between 2011 and 2017, allegedly cashed five checks totaling G. 67,595,000 from the Royalties and Gambling funds. Patricia Corvalán, in turn, allegedly withdrew G. 117,500,000 that should have been allocated to infrastructure and education projects between 2014 and 2016.
In addition to the couple, the deputy's mother, Blanca Gloria Álvarez Vda. de Samaniego, and police sub-officer Cristhian Daniel Domínguez Aponte, the former head of security for the lawmaker, are also accused of cashing checks from the municipal checking account for alleged payments to companies linked to the then-mayor. Damián de Jesús Galarza allegedly withdrew G. 40,000,000; Blanca Álvarez, G. 20,000,000; Cristhian Domínguez, G. 93,500,000; Patricia Corvalán, G. 117,500,000; and Esteban Samaniego, G. 67,595,000.
Other defendants include Andrés Alfredo Arrúa Brítez, legal representative of BH Service SRL; Carlos Aurelio Bareiro Bogarín; Manuel Olazar Duarte; Líder Catalino Ramírez Ramírez; Oscar Samuel Fanego Otazú; Guido Ramón Vargas Gaete, councilor of Quyquyhó; Pedro Osvaldo Etienne Villanueva, employee of the Ministry of Finance; Ruth Mercedes Medina Yegros, former interim mayor of Quyquyhó and employee of the Superior Electoral Court; Benigno Villasboa Cáceres, Secretary of Administration and Finance of the Government of Paraguarí; and Enrique Javier Lovera Lezcano, head of the Procurement Operating Unit of the municipality.
In March 2024, prosecutor Corbeta requested the court to notify the Chamber of Deputies of the request to suspend Deputy Samaniego's parliamentary immunity, along with precautionary measures such as personal bond or real surety, a general prohibition on alienating and encumbering movable and immovable property, and the freezing of bank accounts linked to the individuals and companies under investigation, including BH Service SRL, Soluciones Empresariales, Legión de Servicios, JA Construcciones SA, and JOB Construcciones.