The Jurado de Enjuiciamiento de Magistrados (JEM) is the body responsible for the disciplinary prosecution of judges and prosecutors in Paraguay. The investigation into the network of contacts of the late congressman Eulalio Lalo Gomes, which involves alleged influence-peddling within the JEM, carries significant institutional implications for Paraguay's judicial oversight system.
The investigation into the network of contacts of the late congressman Eulalio Lalo Gomes remains open and could reach new names, according to prosecutors Francisco Cabrera and Luis Piñánez, who are part of the investigation team alongside colleague María Verónica Valdez.
Last week, the Public Prosecutor's Office formally charged former congressman Orlando Arévalo and former judges Carmen Silva and Ana Aguirre, accused of having requested political favors from Lalo Gomes in exchange for influence at the JEM. Arévalo, who chaired the body, allegedly received three checks totaling G. 202 million as a credit guarantee, in return for favoring then-prosecutor Stella Mary Cano, who was facing a disciplinary proceeding.
Although the initial complaint filed by Judge Osmar Legal had also included Cano herself, prosecutor Katia Uemura, and former judge Sadi Estela López Sanabria as individuals who allegedly requested favors from the congressman, only Arévalo has been charged so far. The prosecutors confirmed that the investigation is ongoing to look into the remaining cases.
In the case of López Sanabria, a retired judge from Amambay, the messages reveal that she asked Lalo Gomes for support in a JEM proceeding that resulted in her acquittal. The Supreme Court itself, when opening an examination process against her, noted that the chats showed an apparent exchange of favors, including the release of alleged drug trafficking boss Ederson Salinas, known as Ryguasu, who was later shot dead.
Katia Uemura appears in 2023 conversations asking Lalo Gomes to intercede with Arévalo to resolve an investigation at the JEM. The congressman allegedly pressured the then-president of the body, who replied: "It turned out perfect! It was complicated but it went well! It's over." Shortly afterward, the JEM dismissed the case against the prosecutor.
The investigation also identified siblings Marco Alcaraz, the current Minister of Intelligence, and Liliana Alcaraz, the current Minister of the Secretariat for the Prevention of Money or Asset Laundering (Seprelad), both former prosecutors who maintained contact with Lalo Gomes while the businessman was under investigation. Liliana allegedly received payments at hotels and political support for her campaign for the Association of Prosecutors, while Lalo Gomes boasted of having her "at his disposal" in the Economic Crimes and Anti-Corruption Unit. Marco, in turn, received gifts such as wines, premium meat, an autographed Olimpia jersey, and even an invitation to Gomes' son's wedding, in addition to having brokered a meeting with anti-drug prosecutor Elva Cáceres during an investigation into the Cabeza Branca case, which never resulted in charges against the congressman.
According to the investigators, there are other prosecutors who, based on the messages, were allegedly "at the service" of Lalo Gomes and have not yet been investigated. The network of favors also allegedly benefited Anderson Ríos Villalba, prosecuted for human trafficking, and Waldemar Pereira Rivas, known as Cachorrão, accused of the murder of journalist Leo Veras.