La Derecha Diario Córdoba: the case regarding phantom employees in the provincial legislature moves forward
Kraisman will remain in custody. The justice system is moving forward, and the situation of several legislative officials is becoming more complicated
Guillermo Kraisman, former PJ operator, remains in custody eight months after his arrest for state fraud. Anti-corruption prosecutor Franco Mondino confirmed that he will refer the case to trial. He is charged with attempting to collect nearly one million pesos (2,205 pounds) using a false identity.
The case emerged after an alert from a Banco de Córdoba employee, who detected a suspicious maneuver. The accused, Virginia Martínez, appeared as a legislative advisor, but denies having worked there. According to the judiciary, her mother handed over the ID to Kraisman to carry out the scam.
The woman was declared unfit to stand trial as it was determined that she doesn't understand the criminality of her actions. Meanwhile, the judicial proceedings are reaching increasingly higher levels within the political structure. Officials from the Legislature of Córdoba have already been summoned to testify.
More officials implicated: Fernández and Prunotto targeted for perjury
Legislator Nadia Fernández signed Martínez's hiring and will now have to explain her actions in court. Fernández denies any connection with the accused and keeps that the contract was terminated due to noncompliance. However, there are records of contact between both parties, according to the investigation.
Virginia Martínez's attorney, Gustavo Castellano, is preparing to file a complaint against Fernández for perjury. He will also implicate other officials who, according to him, lied to the prosecutor to cover up internal responsibilities. The judicial filing will be key to determining political responsibilities.
Castellano is also targeting Vice Governor Myrian Prunotto, who signed the appointment that allowed Martínez's entry. He seeks for the vice governor to also be criminally investigated. The defense argues that the entire mechanism was orchestrated from within the legislative structure.
A crude scam with the usual stamp: contracts, slush funds, and official silence
Martínez was hired in December 2024, but claims she never signed anything nor knows those who appointed her. The contract was managed by Fernández, who now tries to distance herself from the case. The ghost employee keeps that she was used without her consent by her mother and Kraisman.
On January 16, 2025, Kraisman and an accomplice attempted to collect the salary using Martínez's expired ID. The salary exceeded 950,000 pesos (2,094 pounds) and had been deposited in an official bank account. The scheme was thwarted by the bank's control system and led to the arrests.
After the scandal, Kraisman offered to pay 1,500,000 pesos (3,307 pounds) as financial compensation to access a summary trial. He also requested house arrest, but the judiciary did not grant it. Prosecutor Mondino decided to continue with the case and move forward to an oral trial.
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