PARAGUAY: NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL RUBEN CANDIA

S E C R E T ASUNCION 001290

SIPDIS

STATE FOR INR-B, WHA/BSC

E.O. 12958: DNG: CO 10/12/2016
TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL PA
SUBJECT: PARAGUAY: NEW ATTORNEY GENERAL RUBEN CANDIA
AMARILLA BIOGRAPHIC INFORMATION


Classified By: Susan S. Sutter for reasons 1.5 (b) and (d).


1. (U) Biographic information of the new Attorney General
Ruben Candia Amarilla.


2. (U) Ruben Candia Amarilla replaced former Attorney
General Oscar Latorre (2000-2005) after his five-year term
expired at the end of August 2005. The Paraguayan Senate
approved Candia,s appointment on August 18, 2005, despite an
unconfirmed allegation he had solicited a bribe as a judge
and his work as a defense attorney on behalf of a well-known
drug trafficker. Candia was hand picked by President Duarte
for this position, which also prompted strong resistance from
the opposition who believe the incumbent should be
independent of the government.


3. (U) Prior to his appointment as Attorney General, Candia
served as the Minister of Justice and Labor from May
2005-August 2005, replacing Juan Dario Monges, who resigned
to further his career in Congress. Candia also served as a
deputy labor minister and worked as a judge during the
Stroessner government.


4. (S) Candia, a lawyer by training, also worked as a
private criminal defense attorney. His clients included a
well-known drug trafficker and several other high-level
criminals. Candia maintains he worked these cases as a junior
attorney and only defended these criminals to move ahead in
the practice. In fact, in September, he requested a meeting
with the Ambassador to clear his name as a reputed friend to
drug traffickers. Sensitive reporting, however, indicates
that Candia is heavily influenced by his close advisor,
Victor Cogliolo Gonzalez, a former police commissioner who is
known to be corrupt.


5. (S) In initial meetings with Embassy officials, Candia
initially seemed apprehensive and unsure of his new role,
making it difficult to read his allegiances. At one point he
expressed great admiration for former Attorney General Oscar
Latorre, but in another thought accused him of removing GOP
files and sensitive equipment from the Public Ministry before
his departure.


6. (U) Candia expressed support while meeting with Embassy
officials, for continuing existing programs implemented by
Latorre and for the unification of the Economic Crimes Unit
and an Anti-Corruption Unit to facilitate increased
information sharing with other GOP entities and the
implementation of a case tracking system. He also expressed
broad support for USG priorities and technical assistance
programs already in progress. In addition, Candia stressed
in statements to the press that his priorities as Attorney
General were to strengthen investigative procedures and to
ensure that the Public Ministry has the financial means to
carry out successful investigations.


7. (U) Ruben Candia Amarilla is 50 years old.


8. (C) Comment: Though Candia publicly stated he is willing
to stand up to corruption and has announced plans to
reorganize the Public Ministry's office in CDE, at this
stage, it may be too early to tell if Candia will follow
through with supporting existing programs and USG priorities.
He may be influenced by corrupt advisors and co-opted by the
members of the corrupt system in Paraguay.
KEANE