Ousted Paraguay president under house arrest after banking crisis leaves 60% of country unable to access accounts

Santiago Peña was detained minutes after he was impeached by Congress, as protesters took to the streets demanding answers after the suspension of the Ueno bank

Paraguay’s rightwing president has been placed under house arrest minutes after he was impeached by Congress, amid a severe crisis that left more than half the country’s population unable to access their bank accounts.

Santiago Peña is being investigated about allegations he used his political influence to favour a bank that expanded exponentially under his government and was suspended this week after irregularities.

9 million people, about 60% of the country’s adult population, who were customers of the bank – Ueno - and who overnight could no longer use their own money even for basic purchases such as bread and water.