The decision of Judge Mario Hichos to grant substitute measures to Pedro Alejandro Duque Sotoindicated by the Public Ministry (MP) in the case of the alleged embezzlement of Q20 million from the National Mortgage Credit (CHN)led to a recusal and three appeals that must now be heard by the Third Appeals Chamber.
The MP presented a challenge so that Actos stops knowing about the case. According to the investigating entity, there are doubts about the impartiality of the judge and it is necessary to guarantee due process within the investigation.
On Tuesday, June 23, Acts did not accept the challenge presented by the MP and sent the legal action to the Third Court of Appeals, which must decide whether the judge continues to lead the case or whether another judge will hear the process.
However, this is not the only action that the room must resolve. It will also hear three appeals filed by the Public Ministry, the Attorney General’s Office (PGN) and the National Mortgage Credit, which act as adhesive plaintiffs in the file.
The appeals seek to reverse the resolution issued by Hichos on June 10, when he granted substitute measures to Duque Soto.
That day, the judge decided that Duque Soto should be released from prison and placed under house arrest with electronic monitoring. In addition, he was prohibited from leaving the country without judicial authorization and ordered to pay a financial bond equivalent to 1% of the amount allegedly defrauded.
Research for Q20 million
Pedro Duque remains linked to criminal proceedings for the crimes of continued personal fraud, laundering of money or other assets and illicit association.
According to the investigation by the Prosecutor’s Office against Organized Crime, a structure would have used irregular financial mechanisms to obtain resources from the National Mortgage Credit.
The investigation maintains that between January and March 2024, loans of up to Q400,000 were approved to people who, according to the Public Ministry, did not meet the economic requirements to access those amounts.
The case also reached the then president of Congress, Nery Ramos, after the MP investigated an armored truck valued at US$85 thousand that he supposedly used.
The Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office maintains that the company Crown & Lion, linked to Duque, would have acquired high-end vehicles without adequate financial support.
A report by Vox Populi indicated that the armored truck used by Ramos would belong to Pedro Duque. However, The deputy rejected any irregular link with the case and claimed that he was the subject of a smear campaign.
Those accused in the CHN case who are in prison
- Ana Gabriela Morales Ávilaby continuous self-fraud, laundering of money or other assets, illicit association and use of falsified documents.
- Maria Fernanda Segura She is investigated for alleged personal fraud, money laundering and illicit association.
- William Rocael López Triguerosis linked to proceedings for the crimes of continued personal fraud, money laundering, illicit association and use of falsified documents.
Defendants under house arrest
- Luis Fernando Pelaez Guerra and Gustavo Adolfo Varela Martínez, for abuse of authority.
- Pedro Luis Guamuche García faces criminal proceedings for continued fraud, abuse of authority and illicit association. María Fernanda Segura was linked to proceedings for the same crimes.
- Alex Omar Solís Salguero was linked to proceedings for embezzlement for continuous theft, continuous personal fraud and illicit association.
- Silvia Sánchez Ochoa was linked to proceedings for illicit association and continued fraud.
- Erick Fernando Arévalo is investigated for illicit association, abuse of authority and continued fraud.
- Sofía del Carmen Lam is investigated for abuse of authority and obtained a lack of merit for the crimes of illicit association and personal fraud.