CFK’s ties to Báez proven beyond doubt, Argentine prosecution claims — MercoPress
CFK’s links with Báez proven beyond doubt, according to the Argentine prosecutor’s office
Despite all efforts to distance themselves from Báez, CFK’s ties to corrupt businessman have been established, prosecution insists
“Corruption has become a habitual behavior, in very serious facts, a permanent organization,” said prosecutor Luciani
Argentine prosecutor Diego Luciani said on Monday there was “enormous relevant evidence” against current Vice President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and 12 other defendants in a corruption case involving public works in the province of Santa Cruz. between 2003 and 2015.
Luciani spoke after the two-week winter recess of an ‘illicit association’ led by those who ‘have been heads of state’, namely CFK (2007-2015) and her late husband and former President Néstor Kirchner (2003-2007) .
The prosecutor insisted during his statement that the defendants had entrusted public works in Santa Cruz to companies belonging to the businessman Lázaro Báez.
“Corruption has become a habitual behavior, in very serious cases, a permanent organization,” said Luciani, who will during nine hearings try to draw up the contours of the alleged embezzlement of the presidential couple.
“I find myself in the obligation to expose (…) the real truth on this affair”, underlined Luciano. Unlike the Financial Investigation Unit (UIF) which demanded the Kirchners’ acquittal, Luciani spoke of “an illicit association which had at the top of its operation those who were heads of state”.
His colleague prosecutor Sergio Mola continued the arguments and at the end of the day he asked that the proceedings be adjourned until 5 p.m. Monday.
The prosecution team also insisted that the dismissal of charges in the so-called Hotesur case was not final, meaning it could be appealed by state prosecutors. . Hotesur is a hotel company owned by CFK and his family, which operates hotels such as Alto Calafate and Los Sauces, where Báez has booked rooms for his staff who never showed up, which is believed to be the modus operandi of the security system. money laundering.
The prosecution also cited a Chaco-based company where Austral de Báez acquired 55% of Adelmo Biancalani’s shares.
Mola also singled out a notary public whose involvement was instrumental in Báez’s acquisition of companies such as Loscalzo and del Curto.
Between the Kirchners and Lázaro Báez “lease agreements, hotel management agreements, trusts, multiple real estate purchase and sale transactions, exchanges and assignments were entered into, while Austral Construcciones received illegally directed funds and in turn became the primary purchaser of the Kirchner ‘Properties’.
In other words, the prosecution said “Báez was a privileged contractor of the state and a privileged contractor of the heads of state”.
“It’s clear that there has been a fallacious relationship, it’s a relationship that is burning which is why it is clear that he wants to come off,” continued Mola. “Cristina Kirchner cannot omit these links because everything that happened in Santa Cruz was within her knowledge.”
The prosecutor insisted that CFK’s relationship with Báez is a hot one, despite claiming to “distance herself” from the businessman. “The very close bond is more than accredited,” Mola said. He also called Báez an “improvised businessman”.
Work will resume Tuesday morning.