The former Minister of the Interior and former head of the National Anti-Drug Secretariat (Senad) in Paraguay, Arnaldo Giuzzio, is in the middle of a trial for aggravated passive bribery, where he is accused of attempting to sell armor equipment and bulletproof vests to the Paraguayan state through Marcus Vinicius Espíndola, a drug trafficker. After almost three years of delays, the trial has finally begun, marking an important step in the search for justice in this case.
The judicial process began after the Sentencing Court, chaired by Judge Adriana Planás, rejected a new maneuver by Giuzzio's defense to postpone the trial. The defense unsuccessfully argued the need to wait for the response from the Brazilian justice system for Espíndola to be able to testify in the process, as well as the lack of financial resources to hire a translator to facilitate the translation of Espíndola's statement.
Despite these attempts at delay, the Sentencing Court decided that the trial should proceed without further delays. The accusation presented by anti-corruption prosecutors Diego Arzamendia and Jorge Arce asserts that Giuzzio held meetings with Espíndola and was aware of his intention to be a supplier for the Ministry of the Interior. Among the evidence presented are WhatsApp conversations, records of meetings between the two, and the use of a truck belonging to Espíndola's company for a vacation in Brazil.
The start of the trial against Giuzzio represents a significant step in the fight against corruption in Paraguay, where there is a push to clarify the alleged illicit activities between the former minister and a drug trafficker concerning the sale of security equipment to the state.
