The administrator of this company owned by former president Horacio Cartes, also accused of this crime, alleged that he lacked documents to speak, before the summons to appear before the legislative organization, ABC Color reports.

Other businessmen, such as those of Tabacalera Hernandarias, also failed to appear, despite being the first to be summoned, and sent a legal representative to explain that they required documentation to respond to the CBI’s inquiries.

For his part, Senator Jorge Querey, president of the Bicameral Commission, declared that “the argument that this is a trial and that those summoned should have all the documentation to respond does not correspond”.

The legislator announced that those tobacco company representatives summoned to appear and refused to testify will be summoned again next week, due to their opposition to answer to the congressional representatives about money laundering.

The CBI also summoned to testify the congressman and senatorial pre-candidate Erico Galeano, linked to the former head of state through Mercury Tabacos, and representatives of other tobacco companies associated to the referred crime.

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