Former deputy and ex-president of the Magistrates' Impeachment Jury (JEM), Orlando Arévalo, failed to appear for his scheduled testimony on Thursday before prosecutor Eugenio Ocampos of Unit 6, according to Ultima Hora. Arévalo is under investigation for alleged fraud involving G. 130 million (about $17,000). His defense attorney requested a copy of the case file, leading to the suspension of the hearing. The prosecutor has announced a new date will be set for the indagatory statement.
The case stems from a complaint filed in February 2026 by Ángela Álvarez Riveros. She alleges that she hired Arévalo, a partner at the law firm Arévalo Zielanko y Asociados, to secure the release of Hugo Martínez Aquino, who was being prosecuted for aggravated theft before the 9th Unit of the Prosecutor's Office in Asunción. According to the complaint, in September 2025, Álvarez paid Arévalo G. 130 million in cash, but the lawyer allegedly failed to take any action in the case and did not return the money despite demands.
Arévalo has remained silent following leaked chats that reportedly reveal a corrupt scheme and judicial manipulation within the JEM, as reported by Ultima Hora. The fraud investigation is separate from other ongoing probes into Arévalo's alleged use of a fake university degree.