Roads: prosecutors will appeal acquittal for illicit association

Prosecutors Diego Luciani and Sergio Mola announced, as soon as the conviction for Cristina Kirchner and the rest of the defendants in the trial for public works was known, announced that they will appeal the sentence that sentenced the vice president to six years in prison for fraudulent administration, but that acquitted her, like the rest of those involved. for the crime of illicit association. Through a statement published on the fiscales.gob.ar website, the representatives of the Public Prosecutor’s Office said: “The exhaustive study made by the team under our charge allowed us to clearly expose how the most serious corruption system that has been verified in the history of our country worked, in which the principles of public procurement were grossly subjugated (equal treatment, equal treatment, competition, competition, publicity and transparency, among others) and that has harmful social, economic and political consequences to this day.” In that sense, they said that the crime of illicit association – “which this prosecution considered proven throughout the trial” – “confirms the existence of a corrupt system that has become entrenched in Argentine public procurement” and at the same time, they maintained, “challenges the entire ruling class to purify the public procurement system, so contaminated with abuses. arbitrariness, discretion, illegal interests and pettiness.” By virtue of the criterion chosen by the majority of the Federal Oral Court No. 2 in its judgment, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, after analyzing its grounds and the dissenting vote, will appeal that decision in defense of the interests of the company it represents, so that a higher court reviews that part of the ruling and revokes it. Indicated. As they pointed out, they must wait for the grounds of the sentence, which will be announced on March 9. From that date, they will have ten days to lodge an appeal. In the text published by the prosecutors, they described the sentence as “transcendental” and stressed that “it fulfills the objective of knowing the real truth, restoring justice, restoring the social and institutional balance violated and recomposing the rule of law, severely damaged by abuses, arbitrariness and acts of corruption committed in public procurement for 12 years.” Today Justice gives us hope that citizens trust their institutions and those who integrate them,” they stressed. On their performance, they said they will continue working “with the same commitment” without “renouncing” their “principles and convictions.” “Nor will we be subdued by pressures, threats or external operations – from other branches of the State or from any person – that are in conflict with the values that sustain a democratic republic, or with the primordial oath to respect the National Constitution that we take when we assume our office,” they warned. We are convinced that the strenuous effort we have made during more than three and a half years of oral and public debate has allowed us to show society a serious, responsible and objective work, in which each and every one of the rights and guarantees of the condemned have been respected, “they said. They also expressed their desire that this case “mark a before and after in terms of political corruption.” Today more than ever, society has the peace of mind of seeing the emergence of a Justice that does not allow itself to be intimidated or pressured, and that decides impartially, without privileges for anyone who commits a serious crime against the State,” they said. Justice prevailed over corruption. And we hope that it continues to do so with the same exemplarity in the following instances and in other serious cases of corruption, to bring order and social peace,” they added. And they added: “The mission will be fulfilled if, from now on, ethical values and integrity become a guide for each person in the task at hand. Especially for those who have the responsibility of managing public resources and being accountable for acts of government.”

Original source in Spanish