Politics · Other · 37 mins ago
Paraguayan investigators find ex-president Peña’s hidden safe empty
Paraguayan investigators found an empty safe at former president Santiago Peña’s home in San Bernardino on Tuesday.
The safe was hidden behind a false wall and served as a panic room, according to the Paraguayan prosecutor’s office.
The search began on Sunday, and investigators needed several days to open the safe’s second door, which had a complex security system.
Prosecutors suspect Peña financed the home’s construction with loans from Ueno Bank, which was later closed by Paraguay’s central bank.
Prosecutors say Peña received two loans totaling about US$500,000 in 2024, with monthly payments close to six times his presidential salary.
Peña was impeached and placed in preventive detention in the days before the safe was opened.
Former vice-president Pedro Alliana took over as president and appointed a new head of the central bank.
Paraguayan investigators opened a hidden safe at former president Santiago Peña’s home on Nov. 10 and found it empty.
The safe was behind a false wall in a property in San Bernardino, about 50 kilometres from Asunción.
Investigators had found the safe during a search on Nov. 8 and opened its first door that day; its second door had a complex security system.
Peña’s defense provided information about where to find the security key, and said the space was intended as a panic room.
The search is part of an investigation into Ueno Bank and alleged irregular financial operations involving public and pension funds.
- Who
- Paraguayan prosecutors and police opened a safe at the home of former president Santiago Peña.
- What
- They found the safe empty, with no valuables or money.
- When
- Nov. 10. Investigators had found it on Nov. 8.
- Where
- Peña’s property in San Bernardino, about 50 kilometres from Asunción, Paraguay.
- Why
- The search is part of an investigation into Ueno Bank and alleged irregular financial operations involving public and pension funds.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Peña was impeached after an accelerated political trial in the Senate, according to Folha.
Paraguay’s public prosecutors formally accused Peña, according to InfoMoney; Folha reported that he was placed in preventive detention.
Investigators found the hidden safe and opened its first door during a search of Peña’s property.
Investigators opened the safe’s second door and found it empty.
- Safe contents
- No valuables or money
- Safe location
- Behind a false wall at Peña’s property
- Property location
- San Bernardino, about 50 kilometres from Asunción
- First door opened
- Nov. 8
- Second door opened
- Nov. 10
- Construction cost
- About 7.7 billion guaraníes, according to both reports