U.S. sanctions Paraguay VP, former president for corruption

Because of this, “these two folks at the moment are blocked from utilizing the USA monetary system,” Marc Ostfield, US ambassador in Paraguay, stated in a information convention.

Cartes and Velázquez didn’t instantly touch upon the allegations. Each been included on a US corruption listing final 12 months however now the accusations towards them have been expanded. The Treasury additionally issued sanctions towards 4 firms owned or managed by Cartes.

Cartes, “one of many wealthiest people in Paraguay,” who was president from 2013 to 2018, “has engaged in a concerted sample of corruption, together with widespread bribery of presidency officers and legislators,” the State Division stated Thursday.

The sanctions outlined Thursday shortly rocked Paraguay’s political world with opposition lawmakers demanding the launch of investigations into Cartes, Velázquez and all lawmakers who might have obtained bribes.

In his quest to turn out to be president, Cartes repeatedly doled out money to officers, a sample that continued throughout his presidency and after he stepped down, based on US officers.

First, after Cartes joined the Colorado Occasion in 2009, he bribed officers to persuade them to eradicate the get together’s earlier requirement that somebody needed to be affiliated for 10 years earlier than working because the get together’s presidential nominee. He then proceeded to pay some members of the get together as a lot as $10,000 to help his candidacy, based on Treasury.

Whereas president, Cartes made month-to-month funds of wherever from $5,000 to $50,000 to a bunch of “loyal legislators” as a way to make sure that he stored management over Congress. These funds continued after he left workplace to verify lawmakers voted in his curiosity, Treasury stated.

General, the previous president, who nonetheless leads the Colorado Occasion, has “leveraged his illicitly acquired wealth and affect to broaden his political and financial energy over Paraguayan establishments,” the State Depatment stated.

The accusations towards Velázquez had been much less detailed, with Treasury solely saying that the vice chairman “has additionally engaged in corrupt practices to intrude with authorized processes and shield himself and legal associates from legal investigations,” together with by bribing and threatening officers to verify his illicit exercise wasn’t uncovered.

America additionally claims that “representatives of each Cartes and Velázquez have collected bribes” at non-public occasions held by Hezbollah in Paraguay.