The Second Pluripersonal Court of First Criminal Instance received a request from the Public Ministry (MP) to revoke the substitute measures granted to Pedro Alejandro Duque Soto and order his capture, after he failed to comply with the obligation to appear to sign the control book. Furthermore, the investigating entity reported that it does not know the whereabouts of the accused.
Duque, identified as the alleged leader of the structure investigated for the alleged embezzlement of Q20 million to the National Mortgage Credit (CHN), was favored with substitute measures on June 10.
As part of these measures, Judge Mario Hichos Bracamonte imposed house arrest with telematic monitoring, a prohibition on leaving the country without judicial authorization and the obligation to appear every 15 days to sign the control book at the Prosecutor’s Office in San José Pinula, Guatemala.
According to the MP, Duque did not come to sign on June 25, when he had to comply with that obligation for the first time.
During the efforts to locate him, the investigators consulted the Telematic Control System of the Ministry of the Interior, whose officials responded that “everything was fine”, despite the failure to comply with the substitute measure.
Free press He sought the position of Duque’s defense on the non-compliance with the alternative measure and the whereabouts of his client. However, he did not respond to calls or messages sent.
Duque’s lawyers resign
While the MP promotes the revocation of house arrest, on June 25 – the same day that Duque had to appear to sign the control book – the lawyers Marlon Javier Juárez Mejicano, Mario Roberto Méndez Álvarez and Jorge Alejandro Méndez Álvarez presented before the Second Pluripersonal Court of First Criminal Instance their resignation from the exercise of the technical defense of Pedro Alejandro Duque Soto.
The professionals indicate that the decision is due to the media exposure that the case has had and “incompatibilities, differences in professional and technical criteria” with their client.
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Pending resources
At least four appeals related to Judge Mario Hichos’ decision to grant alternative measures to Duque remain pending resolution.
The Public Ministry, the Attorney General’s Office and the National Mortgage Credit appealed the resolution issued on June 10 for a higher court to review the legality of the benefit granted to the union.
In addition, the MP challenged Hichos considering that there are doubts about his impartiality. The judge refused to voluntarily deviate from the process and sent the file to the Third Court of Appeals, which must decide whether to continue leading the case and hear the appeals presented by the joint plaintiffs.
Investigation into the CHN case
Pedro Alejandro Duque Soto 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 defraud the National Mortgage Credit for approximately Q20 million.
The investigation maintains that between January and March 2024, loans of up to Q400,000 were approved to dozens of people who, according to the MP, did not have the economic capacity or meet the requirements to access these credits.
According to the file, the money obtained through these loans would have been used to acquire luxury vehicles, real estate and other assets in the name of individuals and legal entities linked to those investigated. Among them is the company Crown & Lion, related to Pedro Duque, which, according to the MP, would have acquired high-end automobiles without sufficient financial backing.
The MP also immobilized several assetsamong them an Aston Martin DB11 Coupé, 2017 model, other luxury vehicles and 10 firearms, as part of the precautionary measures requested within the process.
The investigation reached Nery Ramos
The case also reached the president of Congress, Nery Ramos, after the Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office investigated an armored truck, valued at US$85,000, that he allegedly used.
According to the investigating entity, the vehicle would be linked to the company Crown & Lion, related to Pedro Duque. Additionally, a report from the media Vox Populi He indicated that the truck would belong to the accused.
Ramos rejected any irregular relationship with Pedro Duque and assured that he has never had commercial, financial or personal ties with him. In addition, he stated that the publications about the case are part of a smear campaign against him and maintained that the vehicle was used in accordance with the administrative procedures established for his safety.