Legal Scholar Details 15-Year International Battle Between Whistleblower and State-Owned Energy Giant

Canadian legal professor and criminal lawyer Julio Benítez has released a comprehensive account detailing the 15-year legal ordeal of Eduardo García, a Guatemalan-born financial consultant who exposed multi-million-dollar fraud only to become the primary suspect himself. The book, Canada A Legal Paradise, chronicles how García immigrated to Canada seeking safety and fairness but found himself entangled in an international legal battle spanning two continents that continues to this day.

The case centers around Itaipú Binacional, a Brazilian-Paraguayan state-owned enterprise recognized as a global energy powerhouse and Guinness World Records winner that also stands as a prominent symbol of political corruption. The company has faced numerous allegations of wrongdoing concerning its financial dealings and the governance of its pension fund (https://cajubi.org.py/webcajubi/), resulting in a tarnished reputation that extends across international borders. According to Benítez's detailed account, Itaipú Binacional is pursuing García to account for over $20 million that a Canadian judge claims he defrauded from the pension fund, though the author presents evidence challenging this narrative.

The ruling is based on what the author describes as a conspiracy theory that falsely alleges García made bribe payments to directors overseeing the pension fund. The fundamental problem with this demand, as detailed extensively in the book, is that García cannot provide the requested accounting because he never received the alleged money, and the supposed bribes cited in the allegations do not exist according to the evidence presented. This creates what Benítez characterizes as an impossible legal position for García, who faces demands to account for funds he never possessed.

After more than 15 years of relentless pursuit, Itaipú's attempts to imprison García over any related actions have proven unsuccessful despite extensive legal resources deployed against him. The book suggests the current legal strategy appears driven by a desire to silence him as he continues to expose the truth about events surrounding the case in both Canada and Paraguay, creating what the author describes as a chilling effect on potential whistleblowers. Benítez describes the struggle between García and Itaipú as far more complex than a simple David versus Goliath scenario, characterizing it as a confrontation between David and Goliath alongside an array of formidable adversaries including legal systems and political interests.

The author, who worked for 15 years at Itaipú Binacional including as a legal consultant reporting to the Chief Legal Officer, brings unique insight into the cross-border legal mechanisms employed in the case against García. The book consolidates insights from key figures familiar with the matter, revealing how evidence disappeared, judges looked the other way, and powerful men closed ranks to protect billions at stake in what the author describes as a systematic cover-up operation. Benítez concludes that the real crime wasn't the original fraud but rather the systematic cover-up that followed García's whistleblowing efforts, raising serious questions about international legal cooperation and corporate accountability.