Paraguayan authorities are trying to open a heavily secured vault hidden behind a false wall at a mansion in San Bernardino, as part of an investigation involving Banco Ueno. (Foto: Instagram)
Paraguayan police and prosecutors have been trying since early Monday morning, Nov. 9, to open a secret vault found at former President Santiago Peña’s mansion during search-and-seizure operations over the weekend. The vault is concealed behind a passageway hidden by a false wall.
The door has four layers of security, and the vault reportedly uses Israeli technology. Paraguayan newspaper ABC reported that opening it requires access codes, multiple checks and the owner’s iris recognition. The mansion is in San Bernardino, about 50 miles from Asunción.
The weekend operation was part of an investigation involving Banco Ueno. Authorities seized a jet, a yacht, luxury cars, documents and computers. Peña spent more than R$6 million to build the fortified residence, according to Paraguayan media. Investigators suspect that funds from Banco Ueno loans may have been used to pay for the construction.
Peña, who was impeached and placed in pretrial detention over alleged involvement in the Banco Ueno financial scandal, was arrested along with eight bank executives. Banco Ueno, described as Paraguay’s largest digital bank, had nearly 3 million customers. After it collapsed, thousands of Paraguayans were left unable to access money in their accounts.
The bank is accused of manipulating its assets to make its operations appear credible and of issuing loans to companies linked to the group that controlled it. The allegations remain part of the investigation.
